Compare towns

Dorset vs Orange vs Danby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).

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.

MeasureDorsetOrangeDanby
People
Population
2,092Highest
957Lowest
1,133
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5Lowest
6% above VT
50.3±5.3
17% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
Danby and Orange 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%
15.6%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Orange 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%
19.4%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Danby 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
VT: 43.8%
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
34.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9
VT: 7%
Dorset and Danby 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
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$77,321±$13k
5% below VT
Dorset and Danby 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
$222,000±$22kLowest
30% below VT
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
$1,330±$153
8% above VT
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
Dorset and Orange 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
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
$4,543
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Danby 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%
7.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.3%
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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
8% below VT
28 min
19% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.5%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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

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.