Compare towns
Dorset vs Waitsfield vs Worcester
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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Waitsfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,918 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.