Compare towns
Dorset vs Chester vs Worcester
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).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
2,992Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Chester and Worcester 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Chester 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dorset 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Worcester 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.