Compare towns
Charlotte vs Ira 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).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Ira | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,916Highest |
381Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±5 21% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Ira and Charlotte 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Charlotte 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% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ira and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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 |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±28.6 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Charlotte 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school 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.