Compare towns
Manchester vs Putney 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).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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 | Putney | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
2,622 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76 14% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest 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 |
18 min 24% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.