What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Norwich
People
Population	1,372Lowest	3,640Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Norwich and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4%	16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Strafford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	81%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%	4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Strafford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kLowest 36% above VT	$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT
	Norwich and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above VT	$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT	$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT
	Norwich and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Lowest 42% above VT	$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4%	30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Strafford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest about the VT average	19 minLowest 19% below VT
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Norwich and Strafford 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
School district	Strafford School District	Norwich School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.