Compare towns
Dorset vs Shelburne 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 homeowners (90.7%).
Shelburne has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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 | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
7,969Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% 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 |
$422,400±$92kLowest 33% 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±$296 15% above VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 |
$6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest 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.