Compare towns
Norwich vs Cavendish 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).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Cavendish | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,242Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Cavendish 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 73% above VT |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above VT |
$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 |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% 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 |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.