Compare towns

Dorset vs Putney vs Salisbury

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).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

MeasureDorsetPutneySalisbury
People
Population
2,092
2,622Highest
1,200Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
50.6±6.5Highest
17% above VT
Salisbury 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%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Salisbury 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,250±$40kHighest
37% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$99,688±$21k
23% above VT
Dorset and Salisbury 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
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$306,900±$51k
3% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296
15% above VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
Salisbury 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
$5,313
5% above VT
$4,842Lowest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.2%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
8% below VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
19 min
20% below VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Putney 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 — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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.