Compare towns

Norwich vs Peru vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureNorwichPeruDummerston
People
Population
3,640Highest
434Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% below VT
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
Dummerston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.4%±5
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
54.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Norwich and Peru 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
73% above VT
$151,875±$83kHighest
87% above VT
$101,696±$21kLowest
25% above VT
Peru 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±$76kHighest
101% above VT
$400,000±$105k
26% above VT
$335,300±$22kLowest
6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
$1,271±$820Lowest
about the VT average
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
Norwich and Dummerston 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 98% above VT
$5,000
about the VT average
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Dummerston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%
VT: 10.1%
1.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
19% below VT
28 minHighest
19% above VT
21 min
11% below VT
Work from home
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Norwich 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 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.