Compare towns
Dorset vs Stowe vs Manchester vs Rupert
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Rupert has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Stowe | Manchester | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
5,285Highest |
4,486 |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% 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% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 37% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$362,500±$63kLowest 14% above VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
— |
| Stowe and Dorset 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 |
$7,161 42% above VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.