Compare towns
Danby vs Mendon 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
1,113Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Mendon and Danby 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Mendon 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.