Compare towns

Norwich vs Berwick 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 highest household income ($140k).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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.

MeasureNorwichBerwickDorset
People
Population
3,640Highest
1,998Lowest
2,092
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.6±3.6
10% above U.S.
45.9±7.5Highest
18% above U.S.
Dorset and Berwick 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%
22.5%±12.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dorset and Berwick 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%
35.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$81,406±$39kLowest
about the U.S. average
$111,250±$40k
38% 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
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$323,300±$36kLowest
about the U.S. average
$569,200±$57k
71% 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
$1,460±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,041±$901Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,420±$296
about the U.S. average
Norwich and Dorset 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.
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$7,489
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.9%±45.2
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
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 #101 of 133 in ME —
School district Norwich School District — Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school 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.