Compare towns

Norwich vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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.

MeasureNorwichHamptonDorset
People
Population
3,640
16,426Highest
2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
45.9±7.5
18% above U.S.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Norwich and Hampton 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.
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% 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.
$550,200±$39kLowest
65% 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.
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,420±$296Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hampton 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.
$6,813Lowest
118% above U.S.
$7,489
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Hampton 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%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH —
School district Norwich School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town None in town Winnacunnet High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.