Compare towns

Calais vs Dorset vs Dummerston vs Moretown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

MeasureCalaisDorsetDummerstonMoretown
People
Population
1,713
2,092Highest
2,090
1,532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+5%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
46.8±3.8Highest
9% above VT
Moretown and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
21.9%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
18%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
58.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.4
VT: 7%
Calais and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27kLowest
24% above VT
$111,250±$40kHighest
37% above VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$104,423±$7k
29% above VT
Dorset and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
$569,200±$57kHighest
80% above VT
$335,300±$22kLowest
6% above VT
$380,800±$36k
20% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$838±$462Lowest
32% below VT
Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586
31% above VT
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$5,506
9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
16.1%±14.3Lowest
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
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
11.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
3.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
22 min
8% below VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
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.