Compare towns
Dorset vs Worcester vs Fayston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Worcester | Fayston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
831Lowest |
1,342 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Fayston 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%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Fayston 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Fayston 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% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Fayston 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,250±$28k 36% above VT |
| Dorset and Fayston 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$502,400±$82k 59% above VT |
| Dorset and Fayston 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
| Fayston 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,689 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Worcester 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Fayston 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.