Compare towns
Dorset vs Jackson 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%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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.
| Measure | Dorset | Jackson | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
897Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Waitsfield 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% |
67.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waitsfield and Jackson 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | 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 |
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.