Compare towns

Dorset vs Windham vs Thetford vs Danby

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).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Thetford has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureDorsetWindhamThetfordDanby
People
Population
2,092
594Lowest
2,813Highest
1,133
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
—
+7.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
43.6±6.2Lowest
about the VT average
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
Danby 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%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.8
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
20.8%±6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Danby and Windham 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%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
68%
VT: 43.8%
34.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.7%±4.5Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9
VT: 7%
Thetford 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
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$88,045±$16k
8% above VT
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% below VT
Dorset and Windham 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
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$329,500±$96k
4% above VT
$272,400±$41kLowest
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
—
$1,141±$96
8% below VT
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
Dorset and Thetford 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
$5,951
18% above VT
$6,948
38% above VT
$4,543Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.7%±30.1
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Thetford 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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.1%
VT: 73.2%
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
8% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
23 min
4% below VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
13.6%±6.3
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Windham 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 — — #40 of 70 in VT —
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 — Thetford School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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 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.