Compare towns
Dorset vs Lebanon 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 people working from home (29.3%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Lebanon | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
14,999Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Norwich 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% 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±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lebanon School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.