Compare towns
Dorset vs Shelburne vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most affordable homes ($569k median).
Shelburne has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
7,969 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shelburne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16k 44% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44k 77% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.