Compare towns
Norwich vs Stowe vs Windham 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 most renters (28.1% rent).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Windham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
5,285 |
16,038Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 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% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stowe 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. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Stowe Town School District | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.