Compare towns
Norwich vs Dublin vs Dorset vs Waitsfield
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).
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Dublin | Dorset | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,688Lowest |
2,092 |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Dorset 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% |
21.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Dublin 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% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Dublin 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. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Dorset 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. |
$8,165 162% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Dublin 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.