Compare towns
Dorset vs Waterville vs Dummerston vs Mount Tabor
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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Waterville | Dummerston | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
680 |
2,090 |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Dummerston 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% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4 VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
— |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waterville 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.