Compare towns
Norwich vs Castleton vs Braintree vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Castleton | Braintree | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| 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 101% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| 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 18% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| 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 98% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.