Compare towns
Dorset vs Peru vs Dummerston vs Waitsfield
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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Waitsfield has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Peru | Dummerston | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
434Lowest |
2,090 |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 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%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest 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±$40k 37% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% 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±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.