Compare towns
Norwich vs Auburn vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k 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 | Norwich | Auburn | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
6,119Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,092Lowest 159% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Auburn School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.