What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).

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.

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

Measure	Halifax	Dorset
People
Population	847Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	+5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT	45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT
	Dorset and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	24%±5.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Halifax and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Halifax and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	72.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Dorset and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT	$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT
	Dorset and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT	$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT	$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,991Lowest about the VT average	$7,489Highest 49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Dorset and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 38% above VT	22 minLowest 8% below VT
Work from home	29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9%	29.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Halifax and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Halifax School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.