Compare towns
Dorset vs Strafford vs North Hero
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%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
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 | Strafford | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,372 |
1,263Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero 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% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Hero 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% |
5.5%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| North Hero 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 |
$102,143±$24kLowest 26% 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 |
$451,400±$66k 43% above VT |
| Dorset and North Hero 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$5,132Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and North Hero 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Strafford School District | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| 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.