Compare towns
Norwich vs Suncook vs Auburn 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).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Suncook | Auburn | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
5,432 |
6,119Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
37.9±8.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Auburn 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% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Suncook 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% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn 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±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$79,836±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Auburn 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±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$361,100±$22kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Auburn 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. |
$1,091±$317Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Auburn 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. |
$6,975Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Suncook 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% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest 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. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Auburn 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Auburn 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 | 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.