Compare towns
Norwich vs Exeter vs Waitsfield 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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.
| Measure | Norwich | Exeter | Waitsfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
16,151Highest |
1,918Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% 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. |
44.3±5.3 14% 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%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% 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±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% 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% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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.