Compare towns
Dorset vs Strafford vs Manchester
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%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 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 | Strafford | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,372Lowest |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
| Manchester and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Strafford 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$94,886±$23kLowest 17% above VT |
| Dorset and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
| Dorset and Strafford 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$5,923Lowest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | Strafford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.