Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Dorset vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% 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 | Waitsfield | Dorset | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
2,092 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lebanon 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 | — | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.