Compare towns
Panton vs Dorset vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Panton has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Panton | Dorset | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 690 |
2,092Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Waltham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,667±$10kLowest 7% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Dorset and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,000±$40k 38% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,410±$130 14% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Dorset and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,695 33% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school 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.