Compare towns
Manchester vs Cabot vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Cabot has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Manchester | Cabot | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
1,579Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 18% above VT |
$4,639Lowest 8% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.