Compare towns
Dorchester vs Norwich vs Richmond
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).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
3,640 |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Richmond 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% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Richmond 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% |
59.1% 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% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Richmond 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. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and Richmond 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Norwich School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.