Compare towns
Norwich vs Ogunquit vs Hampden 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Dorset has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Ogunquit | Hampden | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,379Lowest |
7,896Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden 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±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,286±$317Lowest 9% 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 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 |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | RSU 22 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.