Compare towns
Dorset vs Halifax vs Newark
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k 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 | Halifax | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
847 |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Dorset and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Lowest 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%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Dorset and Newark 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±$21k 16% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Newark and Dorset 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 |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.