Compare towns
Dorset vs Dummerston vs Reading vs Windham
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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Dummerston | Reading | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
2,090 |
699 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dummerston 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% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Reading 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.