Compare towns
Norwich vs Lebanon vs Windham 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
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Lebanon | Windham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
14,999 |
16,038Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% 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% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Windham 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.