Compare towns
Dorset vs Mendon vs Thetford
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).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Mendon | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,113Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Thetford 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$88,045±$16kLowest 8% above VT |
| Dorset and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
| Dorset and Mendon 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 |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Dorset 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Mendon 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.