Compare towns
Dorset vs Needham vs Dummerston 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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Needham | Dummerston | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
32,459Highest |
2,090 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dorset 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 38% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Dorset 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Needham | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.