Compare towns
Norwich vs Newfields vs Waitsfield 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).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
2,023 |
1,918Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%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. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%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% |
3.8%±3 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. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% 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. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% 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. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% 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. |
$6,208Lowest 99% 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% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
6% 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% |
79.9% 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. |
1980 same as 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 5% 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% |
19%±6.1Lowest 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Newfields School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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.