Compare towns
Barnard vs Dorset vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
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 | Barnard | Dorset | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.