Compare towns
Hartford vs Lyme vs Dorset vs Wilder
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 the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Lyme | Dorset | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,092 |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lyme 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset 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. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lyme 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 | Lyme School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| 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 | 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.