Compare towns
Dorset vs Hinesburg vs Norwich vs Shelburne
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 homeowners (90.7%).
Hinesburg has the most affordable homes ($463k median).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Hinesburg | Norwich | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
4,718 |
3,640 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
50.1±5.2 16% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne and Hinesburg 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% |
18%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±7.3 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Hinesburg 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% |
64.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 37% above VT |
$112,539±$18k 39% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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 |
$463,400±$51kLowest 46% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
$1,651±$155Highest 34% above VT |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 49% above VT |
$7,667 52% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$8,173 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.2%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Hinesburg 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% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 8% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 | — | #4 of 70 in VT | #1 of 70 in VT | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Champlain Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.5 |
— | — |
| 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.