Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Richmond vs Manchester
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 highest household income ($140k).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Richmond | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
3,640 |
4,159 |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest 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 |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
| Manchester 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester 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% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% 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 |
$432,200±$39kLowest 37% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% 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 |
— | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$5,923Lowest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 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% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 |
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.