Compare towns
Norwich vs Bedford vs Pelham vs Dorset
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 most renters (28.1% rent).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Bedford | Pelham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
23,746Highest |
14,449 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bedford 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Bedford 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. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Pelham 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Bedford School District | Pelham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.