Compare towns
Norwich vs Hartford vs Richmond 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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Hartford | Richmond | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
10,736Highest |
4,159 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Richmond 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% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford 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% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hartford 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 73% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| 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 101% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$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 |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
— | $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 |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Hartford 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Richmond 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Hartford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.