Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Manchester vs Mount Tabor
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Mount Tabor has the most affordable homes ($421k median).
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 | Norwich | Manchester | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
3,640 |
4,486Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Manchester 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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Manchester 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% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 37% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$94,886±$23kLowest 17% above VT |
— |
| 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 80% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$420,500±$76kLowest 33% above VT |
| 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 15% above VT |
$1,460±$322 18% above VT |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$5,233Lowest 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| 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.