Compare towns
Dorset vs Waltham vs Middlesex
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).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Waltham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
452Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kLowest 20% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 |
$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 |
$5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waltham 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.