Compare towns
Charlotte vs Castleton vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Charlotte | Castleton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,916 |
4,453Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Charlotte and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Charlotte and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Charlotte and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Charlotte and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±28.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte 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 | #3 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 History | 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.