Compare towns
Norwich vs Epping vs Stowe 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 highest household income ($140k).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Epping | Stowe | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
7,430Highest |
5,285 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Norwich 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% 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±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Norwich 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Epping School District | Stowe Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.