Compare towns
Dorset vs Shelburne vs Fayston
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 kids (24% under 18).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Fayston has the most affordable homes ($502k 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 | Shelburne | Fayston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
7,969Highest |
1,342Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
| Shelburne and Fayston 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
66.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Fayston 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$110,250±$28kLowest 36% above VT |
| Shelburne 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±$57k 80% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$502,400±$82kLowest 59% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
| Fayston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 49% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$6,689Lowest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.