Compare towns
Richmond vs Dorset vs Hartford vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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.
| Measure | Richmond | Dorset | Hartford | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
2,092Lowest |
10,736Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Dorset and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School | 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 |
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.