Compare towns
Braintree vs Danby vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Danby | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,133 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Braintree and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.