Compare towns
Norwich vs Kensington vs Dover vs Waitsfield
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
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 | Kensington | Dover | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,009 |
33,364Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kensington 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. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Kensington 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. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Kensington and Dover 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. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Kensington 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Kensington School District | Dover School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.