Compare towns
Dorset vs Shelburne vs Hanover
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 homeowners (90.7%).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Shelburne | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
7,969 |
8,479Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44k 77% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.