Compare towns

Dorset vs Eden 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%).
Eden has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

MeasureDorsetEdenWaitsfield
People
Population
2,092Highest
1,351Lowest
1,918
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5Highest
6% above VT
37.7±1.9Lowest
13% below VT
44.3±5.3
about the VT average
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
VT: 17.9%
20.4%±4.3Lowest
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%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
11.6%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
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
VT: 43.8%
17.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
63.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±3.8Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±3
VT: 7%
Eden 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
37% above VT
$83,578±$8kLowest
about the VT average
$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
$215,900±$27kLowest
32% 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
$1,300±$441
5% above VT
$1,200±$821Lowest
about the VT average
Dorset and Eden 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
$3,313Lowest
34% below VT
$6,208
23% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
34.3%±39Lowest
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%
6.1%
VT: 10.1%
6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
77.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1991Highest
15 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
8% below VT
38 minHighest
63% above VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
5.6%±4Lowest
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 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Harwood Unified Union School District #60
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

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.