Compare towns
Norwich vs Newfields vs Hartford 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 youngest population (median age 40.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Newfields | Hartford | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,023Lowest |
10,736Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Hartford 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hartford 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Newfields 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Newfields School District | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.