Compare towns
Norwich vs Williston vs Hartford vs Dorset
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Williston | Hartford | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
10,144 |
10,736Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford 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 VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Norwich and Dorset 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 |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| 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 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Williston 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 98% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.