Compare towns
Middlesex vs Williston vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
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 | Middlesex | Williston | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.