Compare towns
Dorset vs Waltham vs Westmore
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).
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 | Westmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
452Lowest |
465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
| Waltham and Westmore 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Westmore 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$87,188±$11kLowest 7% above VT |
| Dorset and Waltham 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 |
$330,000±$137k 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
| Dorset and Waltham 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 |
$5,714 13% above VT |
$5,357Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waltham 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.