Compare towns
Dorset vs Norwich vs Wells
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
3,640 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells 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% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Wells 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±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 71% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% 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±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% 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% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.