Compare towns
Hartford vs Dorset vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,092 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Hartford 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 3% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.