Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
3,640 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| 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±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Norwich 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.