Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Plainfield vs Shelburne
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 homeowners (90.7%).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Plainfield | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
3,640 |
2,522 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne 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% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Plainfield 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. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44k 77% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.