Compare towns
Norwich vs Plymouth 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).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
6,601Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Norwich 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Norwich 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% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% 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±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above 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±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% 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. |
$6,288Lowest 102% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.