What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).

Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dorset	Halifax
People
Population	2,092Highest	847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT
	Dorset and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Halifax and Dorset 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%	22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Halifax 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Dorset and Halifax 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	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT
	Dorset and Halifax 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	$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,489Highest 49% above VT	$4,991Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%	57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Dorset and Halifax 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%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 8% below VT	33 minHighest 38% above VT
Work from home	29.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Halifax 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	Halifax School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.