Compare towns
Norwich vs Eliot vs Dorset vs Richmond
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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Eliot | Dorset | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
7,146Highest |
2,092Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Dorset 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Dorset 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. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Richmond 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.