Compare towns
Danby vs Pittsfield 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).
Pittsfield has the most renters (23.8% rent).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Pittsfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
391Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Danby 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 |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Pittsfield 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 |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Danby 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest 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 |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Pittsfield 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.