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 highest household income ($140k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 |
33,364Highest |
2,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Thetford 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%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Dover 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. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% 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. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford and Dover 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Dover School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.