Compare towns
Norwich vs Lee vs Dorset vs Richmond
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Lee | Dorset | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
4,576Highest |
2,092Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Richmond 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% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Lee 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. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| 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±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,420±$296Lowest 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. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.