Compare towns
Norwich vs Kensington vs Hartford 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 youngest population (median age 40.8).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Kensington | Hartford | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,009Lowest |
10,736Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% 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. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% 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. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Kensington 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. |
$9,637 209% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% 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% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Kensington School District | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School | 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 |
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.