What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dorset	Peacham
People
Population	2,092Highest	887Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT	50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT
	Peacham 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 VT: 17.9%	20.7%±6Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Dorset and Peacham 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%	33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	5.4%±4Highest VT: 7%
	Peacham 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	$90,000±$28kLowest 11% above VT
	Dorset and Peacham 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	$302,000±$64kLowest 5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT	$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT
	Dorset and Peacham 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	$5,605Lowest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%	66.7%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Dorset and Peacham 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%	10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 8% below VT	31 minHighest 31% above VT
Work from home	29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%	24.2%±16.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Dorset and Peacham 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	Peacham School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.