Compare towns

Norwich vs North Hampton 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).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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.

MeasureNorwichNorth HamptonDorset
People
Population
3,640
4,543Highest
2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
50.5±3.3Highest
30% above U.S.
45.9±7.5
18% above U.S.
North Hampton and Dorset 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%
19.2%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
North Hampton 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%
54.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
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±$12k
74% above U.S.
$146,458±$29kHighest
81% above U.S.
$111,250±$40kLowest
38% above U.S.
North Hampton and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$670,400±$61kHighest
102% above U.S.
$569,200±$57kLowest
71% above U.S.
North Hampton 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.
$1,805±$106Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,420±$296Lowest
about the U.S. average
North Hampton 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.
$8,529
173% above U.S.
$7,489Lowest
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and North Hampton 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 #12 of 120 in NH —
School district Norwich School District North Hampton 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.