Compare towns
Dorset vs Dedham vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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.
| Measure | Dorset | Dedham | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
25,237Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dedham | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.