Compare towns
Dorset vs Springfield vs Thetford
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%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Springfield | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,122Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Thetford 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
| 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 140% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Springfield 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.