Compare towns
Hartford vs Dorset vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Hartford | Dorset | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,092 |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Dorset and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | $78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
| Dorset and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest 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 | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Bolton 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 | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | 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.