Compare towns
Hartford vs Dorset vs Waterbury
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 homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Hartford 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% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Waterbury 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 |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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 |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% 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 | $5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 22% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.