Compare towns
Dummerston vs Dorset vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Dummerston | Dorset | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,092Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Waltham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$97,500±$14kLowest 20% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| 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.