Compare towns
Dorset vs Whiting vs Strafford
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Whiting | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
532Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$91,250±$38kLowest 12% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Dorset and Strafford 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 |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Dorset and Whiting 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Strafford School District |
| 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.