What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).

Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwich	Dorchester
People
Population	3,640Highest	410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Dorchester 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.	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.	$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,460±$322 3% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Norwich and Dorchester 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%	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	40 minHighest 52% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Norwich and Dorchester 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.