Compare towns
Norwich vs Needham 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 most renters (28.1% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dorset has the most affordable homes ($569k 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 | Needham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
32,459Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Norwich 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dorset 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Needham | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.