Compare towns
Bedford vs Dorset vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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 | Bedford | Dorset | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
2,092 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.