Compare towns
Norwich vs Exeter vs Brookline 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 expensive homes ($638k median).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Exeter | Brookline | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
16,151Highest |
5,736 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Brookline 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.