Compare towns
Dorset vs Shelburne vs Thetford vs Dummerston
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).
Shelburne has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Thetford | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
7,969Highest |
2,813 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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 VT: 43.8% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
68% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Shelburne 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 37% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$88,045±$16kLowest 8% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 80% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 15% above VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 49% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Thetford 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Thetford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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.