Compare towns
Strafford vs Dorset vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Strafford | Dorset | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Dorset and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 42% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Strafford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.