Compare towns
Washington vs Dorset vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Williamstown has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Washington | Dorset | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
2,092 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Washington and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Dorset and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.