Compare towns
Waltham vs Dorset vs New Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
New Haven has the most renters (21.8% 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 | Waltham | Dorset | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,792 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
48±3.9 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waltham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$92,321±$17kLowest 14% above VT |
| Dorset and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$379,300±$19k 20% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,163±$143 6% below VT |
| Dorset and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,967 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
20.1%±6.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.