Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Dorset vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
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 | Wardsboro | Dorset | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
2,092Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.