Compare towns
Meredith vs Williston vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Meredith | Williston | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
10,144Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% 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 | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.