Compare towns
Dorset vs Durham vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
15,080Highest |
7,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
| Durham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,442±$589Highest about the U.S. average |
| Shelburne and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Oyster River Coop School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.