Compare towns
Dorset vs Danby vs Manchester vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Dorset | Danby | Manchester | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,133 |
4,486Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
— |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,057±$76 14% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 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.