Compare towns
Danby vs Highgate vs Williamstown vs Dorset
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).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Highgate | Williamstown | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Williamstown 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Danby and Highgate 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% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Williamstown 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Dorset 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.