Compare towns
Dorset vs Hartford vs Norwich vs Stratham
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%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Norwich has the youngest population (median age 40.8).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Hartford | Norwich | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
10,736Highest |
3,640 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Hartford 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% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Dorset 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% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford 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. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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 |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Hartford School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.