Compare towns
Norwich vs Dover vs Stowe
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 youngest population (median age 40.8).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Dover | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
5,930Highest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Dover and Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and Stowe 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Stowe 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.