Compare towns
Dorset vs Mapleton vs Richmond 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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Richmond | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,884Lowest |
4,159Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Lowest 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 38% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Richmond 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 |
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.