Compare towns
Fayston vs South Hero 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 affordable homes ($502k median).
South Hero has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | South Hero | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342Lowest |
1,586 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| South Hero and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest 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+ | 19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero 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% |
61.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fayston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28kLowest 36% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| South Hero and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82kLowest 59% above VT |
$558,300±$46k 76% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Dorset and South Hero 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 |
$1,439±$221 17% above VT |
$1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
| Fayston and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689Lowest 33% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and South Hero 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 | South Hero School District | 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.