Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Peru vs Dummerston
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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Peru | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
3,640Highest |
434Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Dorset 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±$12k 73% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
| Peru and Norwich 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% 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±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| 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 49% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
2.8% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%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 |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | Norwich School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.