Compare towns

Dorset vs Lee 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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).

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.

MeasureDorsetLeeNorwich
People
Population
2,092Lowest
4,576Highest
3,640
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±7.5Highest
18% above U.S.
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
Dorset and Lee 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%
21.9%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee 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%
50.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee 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±$40kLowest
38% above U.S.
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
Norwich and Lee 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.
$480,600±$61kLowest
44% 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
—
$1,460±$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
$7,489Lowest
140% above U.S.
$9,661
210% 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%
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Lee 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%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
18% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Lee 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 — #3 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Oyster River Coop School District Norwich School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 10 photos → 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.