Compare towns
Dummerston vs Hartford vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Dummerston | Hartford | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
10,736Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 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 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest 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+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% 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 | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% 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 | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.