Compare towns
Dorset vs Chester vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Chester | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
2,992Highest |
1,133Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
| Danby and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Danby 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester and Dorset 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below 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 | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 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 | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.