Compare towns
Dorset vs Plainfield vs Stowe vs Dummerston
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Plainfield | Stowe | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
2,522 |
5,285Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Dummerston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Plainfield School District | Stowe Town School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.