Compare towns
Dorset vs Hampton Beach vs Norwich
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 homeowners (90.7%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
2,605 |
3,640Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 38% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset 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. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% 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±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Hampton Beach 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 | — | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.