Compare towns
Dorset vs Williston vs Calais
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%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k 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 | Williston | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
10,144Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Calais 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% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
| Williston and Dorset 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 |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Calais 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.