Compare towns
Dorset vs Hartford vs Stowe
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Hartford | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
10,736Highest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe 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 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 8% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.