What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hero has the highest household income ($127k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Hero	Dorset
People
Population	1,586Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT	45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT
	South Hero and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	South Hero and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	72.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Dorset and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT	$111,250±$40kLowest 37% above VT
	South Hero and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,300±$46kLowest 76% above VT	$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT
	Dorset and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT	$1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT
	South Hero and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,858Highest 56% above VT	$7,489Lowest 49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Dorset and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% above VT	22 minLowest 8% below VT
Work from home	26.3%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Dorset and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	South Hero School District	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

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.