Compare towns
Norwich vs Nelson 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 highest household income ($140k).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Dorset has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Nelson | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
648Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Nelson 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%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Dorset 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$569,200±$57k 71% 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. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 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. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Nelson School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.