Compare towns
Dorset vs Worcester vs Westminster
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
831 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Dorset 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Westminster 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Dorset and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.