Compare towns
Charlotte vs Lancaster vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlotte has the highest household income ($144k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Lancaster | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,916Highest |
3,216 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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 79% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| 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 109% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,738±$803Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| 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 196% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±28.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | White Mountains Regional School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.