Compare towns
Norwich vs Waitsfield vs Dorset vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
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 | Waitsfield | Dorset | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,918Lowest |
2,092 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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 73% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
| Norwich and Shelburne 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 98% above VT |
$6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
$8,173 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Norwich School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
VT 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.