Compare towns
Dorset vs Castleton vs Dummerston vs Waitsfield
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Dorset | Castleton | Dummerston | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
4,453Highest |
2,090 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Dummerston 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.