Compare towns
Dorset vs Rupert vs Manchester 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 kids (24% under 18).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Rupert | Manchester | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
676Lowest |
4,486Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
| Rupert and Manchester 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% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
68% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Manchester 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 |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$88,045±$16kLowest 8% above VT |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,141±$96 8% below VT |
| Dorset and Thetford 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 |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.