Compare towns
Norwich vs Dover vs Hartford
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 highest household income ($140k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Hartford 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% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hartford 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 74% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% 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. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Hartford 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Dover School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.