Compare towns
Norwich vs Hanover 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
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Waitsfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
8,479Highest |
1,918Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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% |
8% 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% |
62.4%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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% 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% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.