Compare towns
Wells vs Addison vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Wells | Addison | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
1,175 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Addison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Addison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.2% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Addison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Addison and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,831 16% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | 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.