Compare towns
Norwich vs Dunbarton vs Amherst vs Dorset
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 most renters (28.1% rent).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Dorset has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Dunbarton | Amherst | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
3,097 |
11,861Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Amherst 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% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Dunbarton 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. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Norwich 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. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Amherst 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. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dunbarton 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% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Dorset 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Dunbarton School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.