Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Shelburne vs Danby
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 homeowners (90.7%).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Shelburne | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
3,640 |
7,969Highest |
1,133Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+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 |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
| Danby and Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Danby 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% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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 |
$115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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 |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
| 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±$296 15% above VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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 |
$8,173 62% above VT |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.