Compare towns
Dorset vs Oakham 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 people working from home (29.3%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Oakham | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,639Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Oakham 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest 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% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Oakham 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. |
$420,100±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| 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±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% 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. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Quabbin | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.