Compare towns

Norwich vs Guildhall vs Dorset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Guildhall has the most affordable homes ($321k 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.

MeasureNorwichGuildhallDorset
People
Population
3,640Highest
371Lowest
2,092
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
+5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% below VT
42.6±7.8
about the VT average
45.9±7.5Highest
6% above VT
Dorset and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±7.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.1%±5.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.9%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
Guildhall 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
VT: 43.8%
33.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
72.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.1%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
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
73% above VT
$115,000±$46k
42% above VT
$111,250±$40kLowest
37% above VT
Norwich and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
$321,200±$62kLowest
about the VT average
$569,200±$57k
80% above VT
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
18% above VT
$850±$717Lowest
31% below VT
$1,420±$296
15% above VT
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 98% above VT
$4,625Lowest
8% below VT
$7,489
49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
75%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
74.4%±22.5
VT: 48.4%
Guildhall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
19% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
22 min
8% below VT
Work from home
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 — —
School district Norwich School District — Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.