Compare towns

Dorset vs Pomfret vs Williston

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).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureDorsetPomfretWilliston
People
Population
2,092
908Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
53.4±12.1Highest
24% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
Pomfret 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%
15.4%±6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Williston 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%
29.5%±6.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Pomfret 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%
58%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston 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
$84,229±$8kLowest
4% above VT
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
Dorset and Williston 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
$399,200±$144kLowest
26% above VT
$475,800±$40k
50% above VT
Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296
15% above VT
$1,170±$98Lowest
5% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Williston and Dorset 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
$6,722
33% above VT
$5,592Lowest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Williston 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%
5.8%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1970Lowest
6 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
8% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Pomfret 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 — — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
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

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.