Compare towns
Manchester vs Peru vs Sandgate 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Peru | Sandgate | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
434Lowest |
435 |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Manchester 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% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
— | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Dorset 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.