Compare towns
Fayston vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k 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 | Strafford | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342Lowest |
1,372 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5 9% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$28kLowest 36% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kLowest 36% above 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% 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 | $6,689Lowest 33% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | Strafford 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 History | 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.