Compare towns
Norwich vs Holderness vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Holderness | Plainfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Norwich 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% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Plainfield 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. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% 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. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Holderness and Plainfield 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. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Plainfield 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None 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.