Compare towns
Hartford vs Dorset vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Hartford | Dorset | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
2,092Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dorset and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Dorset and Hartford 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 |
$5,700Lowest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Brattleboro 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.