Compare towns
Dorset vs Mapleton vs Norwich vs Waitsfield
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Norwich | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,884Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% 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±$296 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Norwich School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.