Compare towns
Dorset vs Springfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
9,084Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Springfield 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.