Compare towns

Dorset vs Dummerston vs Hartford

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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

MeasureDorsetDummerstonHartford
People
Population
2,092
2,090Lowest
10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5Highest
6% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
43.2±3.9Lowest
about the VT average
Dorset and Dummerston 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%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
18%±3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Dummerston 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%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.5%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Hartford 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%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
47.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.9%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
Hartford 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
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$78,125±$7kLowest
4% below VT
Dorset and Dummerston 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
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$304,500±$26kLowest
4% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,218±$118Lowest
about the VT average
Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$5,773
15% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±12.7
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Hartford 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
8% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
18 minLowest
22% below VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Dummerston 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 — — #34 of 70 in VT
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Hartford School District
High school in town None in town None in town Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.