Compare towns

Dorset vs Hillsborough vs Norwich vs Danby

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%).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).

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.

MeasureDorsetHillsboroughNorwichDanby
People
Population
2,092
5,980Highest
3,640
1,133Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±7.5
18% above U.S.
40.9±4.6
5% above U.S.
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
52.6±4.8Highest
35% above U.S.
Danby 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
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Danby 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%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
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.
$84,495±$12k
5% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$77,321±$13kLowest
4% below 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.
$272,300±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$272,400±$41k
18% below 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
$1,198±$390
15% below U.S.
$1,460±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$794±$166Lowest
44% below 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.
$5,815
86% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,543Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±34.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Hillsborough 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%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
18% below U.S.
41 minHighest
55% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
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 — #97 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT —
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District Norwich School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town None in town Hillsboro-Deering High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5
— —
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.