Compare towns
Dorset vs Underhill vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Underhill has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Underhill | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
3,141Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster 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 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Underhill 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Dorset and Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Westminster 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% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Westminster 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.