Compare towns
Norwich vs Worcester vs Ripton 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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Worcester | Ripton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above 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±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Norwich and Dorset 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ripton 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 History | 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.