Compare towns
Orford vs Norwich vs Rumney vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Rumney has the most homeowners (77.8%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Orford | Norwich | Rumney | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,295Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,458 |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Norwich School District | Rumney School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Highest |
— | — | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.