Compare towns
Norwich vs Jackson 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 most renters (28.1% rent).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
897Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Jackson 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. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Norwich 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. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jackson 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. |
$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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 30% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | 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 History | 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.