Compare towns
White River Junction vs Lyme vs Norwich vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | White River Junction | Lyme | Norwich | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
1,710Lowest |
3,640Highest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — |
| School district | — | Lyme 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 | 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.