Compare towns
Dummerston vs Dorset vs Williston vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Williston | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
2,092 |
10,144Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.