Compare towns
Dorset vs Jay vs Williston 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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Waitsfield has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Jay | Williston | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
471Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Jay 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.