Compare towns
Norwich vs Stratham vs Dorset vs Waitsfield
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Stratham | Dorset | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
7,754Highest |
2,092 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
23.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.