Compare towns
Norwich vs Bow vs Plainfield 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).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k 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.
| Measure | Norwich | Bow | Plainfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
8,335Highest |
2,522 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Plainfield 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% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Bow 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Bow 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Bow School District | Plainfield School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.