Compare towns

Richmond vs Dorset vs Bow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

MeasureRichmondDorsetBow
People
Population
4,159
2,092Lowest
8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±5.6
12% above U.S.
45.9±7.5Highest
18% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,235±$24kLowest
34% above U.S.
$111,250±$40k
38% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39kLowest
30% above U.S.
$569,200±$57kHighest
71% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,420±$296Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Lowest
120% above U.S.
$7,489
140% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
22 minLowest
18% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Bow 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 #5 of 70 in VT — #26 of 120 in NH
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Bow School District
High school in town None in town None in town Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.