Compare towns
Dorset vs Dummerston vs Ira vs Sandgate
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
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 | Dummerston | Ira | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
2,090 |
381Lowest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate 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% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 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 | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— |
| 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school 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.