Compare towns
Dorset vs Dummerston vs Norwich vs South Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
South Hero has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Dorset | Dummerston | Norwich | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
2,090 |
3,640Highest |
1,586Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| South Hero and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Dorset 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 37% above VT |
$101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$127,434±$15k 57% above VT |
| Norwich and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$558,300±$46k 76% above VT |
| 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±$296 15% above VT |
$1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,439±$221 17% above VT |
| Norwich and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 49% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$7,858 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and South Hero 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Norwich School District | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.