Compare towns
Dorset vs Rupert vs Manchester vs Winhall
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 most affordable homes ($363k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).
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 | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
676Lowest |
4,486Highest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
48.9±6.1 13% above VT |
| 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% |
17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Winhall 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% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest 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% |
67.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Winhall 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±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% above VT |
| Dorset and Winhall 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±$63kLowest 14% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$471,800±$55k 49% above VT |
| Dorset and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
| Dorset and Winhall 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 |
$6,567 30% 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% |
37.5%±38.9 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 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 |
27 min 13% above 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% |
18.4%±9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school 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.