Compare towns
Westfield vs Dorset vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
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 | Westfield | Dorset | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 536Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±19.9 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Dorset and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.1%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$30k 11% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Dorset and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,400±$47k 5% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$187Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,388 13% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lowell School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.