Compare towns

Norwich vs Newfields vs Richmond 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k 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.

MeasureNorwichNewfieldsRichmondDorset
People
Population
3,640
2,023Lowest
4,159Highest
2,092
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
43.7±5.6
12% 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%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±5
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%
19.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dorset and Richmond 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%
59.1%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%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$108,235±$24kLowest
34% above 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.
$432,200±$39kLowest
30% above 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.
—
$1,420±$296Lowest
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.
$6,868Lowest
120% above U.S.
$7,489
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Newfields 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%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.8%
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.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
6% below U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±6.1
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 — #5 of 70 in VT —
School district Norwich School District Newfields School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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 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.