Compare towns
Newfane vs Dorset vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Newfane | Dorset | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
2,092 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Newfane and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% 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 | $1,266±$238Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% 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 | $5,174Lowest about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dorset 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.