Compare towns
Dorset vs Manchester vs Peru 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%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Manchester | Peru | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
4,486Highest |
434Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Manchester 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% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Manchester 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% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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±$40k 37% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Peru 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±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$400,000±$105kLowest 26% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Peru 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 |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | 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 | 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.