Compare towns
Norwich vs Pittsfield vs Dorset
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 highest household income ($140k).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($313k median).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Pittsfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
391Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Pittsfield 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 73% above VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Norwich and Dorset 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 |
$313,300±$73kLowest about the VT average |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Norwich and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| 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 98% above VT |
$5,181Lowest about the VT average |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Pittsfield 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 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.