What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Montpelier has the most affordable homes ($379k median).

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	East Montpelier	Dorset
People
Population	2,612Highest	2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.7±4Highest 8% above VT	45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT
	East Montpelier and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Dorset and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	East Montpelier and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	72.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	East Montpelier and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,778±$21kLowest 14% above VT	$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT
	Dorset and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$378,700±$32kLowest 20% above VT	$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,187±$131Lowest 4% below VT	$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT
	Dorset and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,868Lowest 16% above VT	$7,489Highest 49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.2%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 17% below VT	22 minHighest 8% below VT
Work from home	21.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Dorset and East Montpelier 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	#15 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	U-32 Middle & High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.