Compare towns
Norwich vs Rupert vs Dorset vs Hartford
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).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Rupert | Dorset | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
676Lowest |
2,092 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Rupert 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% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 73% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below 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 |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below 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 |
— | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT 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 98% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Hartford School District |
| High school 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 |
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.