Compare towns
Dorset vs Richmond vs Williston vs Dummerston
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).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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.
| Measure | Dorset | Richmond | Williston | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
4,159 |
10,144Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
| Dorset and Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,392±$126Lowest 13% 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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.