Compare towns
Danby vs Dorset vs Windham vs Wells
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 oldest population (median age 52.6).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Danby | Dorset | Windham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
2,092Highest |
594Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells 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±$13k 5% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Wells 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.