Compare towns

Danby vs Dorset vs Dummerston vs Ferrisburgh

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ferrisburgh has the most renters (14.7% rent).

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.

MeasureDanbyDorsetDummerstonFerrisburgh
People
Population
1,133Lowest
2,092
2,090
2,661Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
45.5±4.9Lowest
6% above VT
Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.9%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.3%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
51.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±2.8Highest
VT: 7%
Ferrisburgh and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% below VT
$111,250±$40kHighest
37% above VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$106,989±$22k
32% above VT
Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,400±$41kLowest
14% below VT
$569,200±$57kHighest
80% above VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$422,700±$35k
34% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$1,420±$296
15% above VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,435±$173Highest
16% above VT
Ferrisburgh and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,543
10% below VT
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$6,120
21% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.4%±34.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
57%±19.5
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
11.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
26% above VT
22 min
8% below VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
28 min
21% above VT
Work from home
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
14.6%±4.2
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Dummerston 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 70 in VT
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54
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.