Compare towns
Dorset vs Mount Tabor 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
Mount Tabor has the most affordable homes ($421k median).
Norwich has the youngest population (median age 40.8).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
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 | Mount Tabor | Norwich | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
304Lowest |
3,640 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Shelburne 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest 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% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Shelburne 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% |
34.9%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% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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 |
— | $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 |
$420,500±$76kLowest 33% 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 |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 49% above VT |
$5,233Lowest 4% 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% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.