Compare towns
Norwich vs Stowe vs Dorset vs Richmond
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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Stowe | Dorset | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
5,285Highest |
2,092Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Dorset 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 |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% 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±$76k 101% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$432,200±$39kLowest 37% above VT |
| 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±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
— |
| Norwich and Stowe 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 |
$7,161 42% above VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
$6,868Lowest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Stowe Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.