Compare towns
Norwich vs Plaistow vs Dorset vs Stowe
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).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Plaistow | Dorset | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
7,861Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Plaistow 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. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| 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±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Plaistow 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. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.