Compare towns
Carroll vs Dorchester 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
Carroll has the oldest population (median age 62.4).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Carroll | Dorchester | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659 |
410Lowest |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 60% above U.S. |
56±10.5 44% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Carroll and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$26kLowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,500±$42k 21% below U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$241Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,356Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,779 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Dorchester 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 | — | — | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.