Compare towns
Sandgate vs Pawlet vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Pawlet has the most renters (12.2% rent).
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 | Sandgate | Pawlet | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,480 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Sandgate and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest 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+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 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 | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Dorset 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 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.