Compare towns

Cornish vs Williston vs Dorset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).

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.

MeasureCornishWillistonDorset
People
Population
1,816Lowest
10,144Highest
2,092
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
45.9±7.5
18% above U.S.
Cornish and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,821±$2kLowest
14% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$111,250±$40kHighest
38% above U.S.
Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69kLowest
11% below U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$569,200±$57kHighest
71% above U.S.
Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,420±$296
about the U.S. average
Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$7,489Highest
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Williston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Cornish School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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

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.