Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Stowe vs Stratham
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 most renters (28.1% rent).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Stowe | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
3,640 |
5,285 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% 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% |
22.5%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 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% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% 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% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Stratham 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 38% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Stowe 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. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% 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% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer 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. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | Stowe Town School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| 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.