Compare towns
Dorset vs Hanover vs Stowe vs Manchester
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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Stowe | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
8,479Highest |
5,285 |
4,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Stowe 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Manchester 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% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$94,886±$23k 18% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dorset 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. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,923Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Stowe Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.