Compare towns

Dorset vs Hartford vs Dummerston

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).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).

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.

MeasureDorsetHartfordDummerston
People
Population
2,092
10,736Highest
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
+7.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5Highest
6% above VT
43.2±3.9Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
Dorset and Dummerston 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%
18%±3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
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%
22.5%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Hartford 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%
47.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
4.9%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Hartford 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
$78,125±$7kLowest
4% below VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above 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
$304,500±$26kLowest
4% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
$1,218±$118Lowest
about the VT average
$1,392±$126
13% above 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
$5,773
15% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±12.7
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Hartford 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%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
67.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
8% below VT
18 minLowest
22% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Dummerston 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 — #34 of 70 in VT —
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Hartford School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Hartford High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.6
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.