Compare towns
Norwich vs Dover vs Thetford
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.
| Measure | Norwich | Dover | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
5,930Highest |
2,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Dover and Thetford 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% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thetford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Thetford 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. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below 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. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford and Norwich 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 70 in VT | #1 of 282 in MA | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.