Compare towns
Norwich vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Strafford | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
4,306Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Strafford 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% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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 74% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford 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. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Dorset 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Strafford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.