Compare towns
Pawlet 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
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
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 | Pawlet | Williston | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Pawlet and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest 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+ | 27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% 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 | $266,200±$44kLowest 16% below 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 | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below 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 | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest 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 | 10% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Williston 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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.