Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Plainfield vs Stowe
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%).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
3,640 |
2,522 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%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 |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Lowest 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% 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±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Norwich 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. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Plainfield 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 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. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.