Compare towns

Dorset vs Braintree vs Dummerston vs Mount Tabor

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mount Tabor has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).

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.

MeasureDorsetBraintreeDummerstonMount Tabor
People
Population
2,092Highest
1,026
2,090
304Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
57.8±10.6
34% above VT
Braintree and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.3%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±6.1Lowest
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+
21.9%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.2%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
42.4%±18.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Mount Tabor and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
34.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
1.6%±4
VT: 7%
Dorset and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,250±$40kHighest
37% above VT
$79,803±$5kLowest
about the VT average
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
—
Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$569,200±$57kHighest
80% above VT
$217,700±$28kLowest
31% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$420,500±$76k
33% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296
15% above VT
$840±$405Lowest
32% below VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$2,143±$367Highest
74% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
$3,908Lowest
22% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$5,233
4% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.4%±29.4
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
81%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1946Lowest
30 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
8% below VT
26 min
11% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
46 minHighest
94% above VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
19%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
10.4%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Dummerston 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 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town None in town None in town None in town —
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.