Compare towns
Dorset vs Mount Tabor vs Waitsfield vs Rupert
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%).
Mount Tabor has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Rupert has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Mount Tabor | Waitsfield | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
304Lowest |
1,918 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 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% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Rupert 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Dorset 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 |
— | $84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Dorset and Rupert 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 |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$362,500±$63kLowest 14% above VT |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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 |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school 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.