Compare towns
Dorset vs Stowe vs Wilder
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Stowe | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
5,285Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT |
| Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Stowe 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% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$7,161 42% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Wilder 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 8% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.