Compare towns
Norwich vs Lebanon vs Dorset vs Thetford
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 highest household income ($140k).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Lebanon | Dorset | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
14,999Highest |
2,092Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Thetford 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Thetford 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. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 92% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lebanon 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Thetford 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% 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. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.