Compare towns

Dorchester vs Norwich vs Marlow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

MeasureDorchesterNorwichMarlow
People
Population
410Lowest
3,640Highest
855
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±10.5Highest
44% above U.S.
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
52.8±11.7
36% above U.S.
Dorchester and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.2%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
39.8%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Dorchester and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian —
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$110,455±$12kLowest
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$139,600±$133kLowest
58% below U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$325,400±$49k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,460±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,154±$160Lowest
18% below U.S.
Norwich and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,779Lowest
21% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,826
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
18.2%±95.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Norwich and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
52% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
35 min
33% above U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±8.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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 Marlow 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

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.