Compare towns
Dorset vs Dover vs Norwich vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Dorset | Dover | Norwich | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
33,364Highest |
3,640 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% 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 | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dover School District | Norwich School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.