Compare towns
Dorset vs Ferrisburgh 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%).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
2,661Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh 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% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest 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% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Ferrisburgh 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% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
$422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Ferrisburgh and Dorset 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 |
$6,120Lowest 21% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | 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.