Compare towns
Fayston vs Waitsfield vs Dorset vs Duxbury
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 oldest population (median age 46.9).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Duxbury has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Waitsfield | Dorset | Duxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,342Lowest |
1,918 |
2,092Highest |
1,548 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5Highest 9% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
37.5±4.4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Fayston and Dorset 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% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
13%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Duxbury and Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$105,208±$25k 30% 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 |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$364,600±$27kLowest 15% 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 |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,318±$407 7% 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 |
$6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,564 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
21.2%±21 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Harwood Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.