Compare towns
Fayston vs Pawlet vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the most renters (13% rent).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Fayston | Pawlet | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342Lowest |
1,480 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Pawlet and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28k 36% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% 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 | $502,400±$82k 59% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% 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 | $1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% 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 | $6,689 33% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 25% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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 |
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.