Compare towns
Dorchester vs Norwich vs Orford
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).
Orford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Dorchester | Norwich | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Norwich 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. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Orford 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. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orford and Norwich 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.