Compare towns
Norwich vs Stratham vs Henniker 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
7,754Highest |
6,197 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Stratham 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Stratham 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% 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. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% 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. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$8,877 185% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% 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% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Henniker School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.