Compare towns
Pawlet vs Dorset vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
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 | Pawlet | Dorset | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
2,092Highest |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Dorset and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.