Compare towns
Norwich vs Plainfield vs Dorset vs Hartford
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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Plainfield | Dorset | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
2,522 |
2,092Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Hartford 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.