Compare towns

Dorset vs Danby 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 people working from home (29.3%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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.

MeasureDorsetDanbyWaitsfield
People
Population
2,092Highest
1,133Lowest
1,918
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
44.3±5.3Lowest
about the VT average
Danby and Dorset 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%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
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%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Waitsfield 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%
34.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
63.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3.8%±3Highest
VT: 7%
Waitsfield 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
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% below VT
$84,375±$34k
4% above VT
Dorset and Waitsfield 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
$272,400±$41kLowest
14% below 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
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$1,200±$821
about the VT average
Dorset and Waitsfield 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
$4,543Lowest
10% below VT
$6,208
23% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.4%±30.6
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Waitsfield 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%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
8% below VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Waitsfield 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 Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None 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.