Compare towns
Dorset vs Danby vs Thetford vs South Hero
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).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
South Hero has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Thetford | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,133Lowest |
2,813Highest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±4.8 19% above VT |
| Danby and South Hero 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%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero and Danby 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% |
68% VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Thetford 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±$40k 37% above VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero and Dorset 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 |
$329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
$558,300±$46k 76% above VT |
| Dorset and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,141±$96 8% below VT |
$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
| South Hero and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 49% above VT |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and South Hero 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Thetford School District | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | None 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.