Compare towns

Norwich vs Epsom 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).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
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.

MeasureNorwichEpsomDorset
People
Population
3,640
4,939Highest
2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
47.1±3.4Highest
21% above U.S.
45.9±7.5
18% above U.S.
Epsom 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%
18.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dorset and Epsom 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%
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Epsom 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.
$97,941±$13kLowest
21% 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±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$338,400±$19kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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±$322Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,212±$437Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,420±$296
about the U.S. average
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.
$6,210Lowest
99% above U.S.
$7,489
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
71.2%±19.7
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Epsom 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%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Norwich 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 #69 of 120 in NH —
School district Norwich School District Epsom School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.