Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Dorset vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% 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 | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
2,092 |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Lowest 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+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Dorset 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 4% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— |
| Dorset and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest 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 | 6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Richmond 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.