Compare towns
Richmond vs Hartford vs Dorset vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Hartford | Dorset | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
10,736Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset 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% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Hartford 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% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hartford 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±$24k 33% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% 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 |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Dorset 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 |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Hartford 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Hartford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.