Compare towns

Dorset vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).

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.

MeasureDorsetDoverWaitsfield
People
Population
2,092
33,364Highest
1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±7.5Highest
18% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
44.3±5.3
14% above U.S.
Dorset and Waitsfield 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%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
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%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
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%
52%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover 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±$40kHighest
38% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
Dorset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$569,200±$57kHighest
71% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$422,400±$92kLowest
27% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296
about the U.S. average
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
Dover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,489
140% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,208Lowest
99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Dover 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%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
18% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Waitsfield 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 — #64 of 120 in NH —
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Dover School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.