Compare towns
Bennington vs Dorset vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
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 | Bennington | Dorset | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,092 |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.