Compare towns
Westford vs Dorset vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Westford | Dorset | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290 |
2,092Lowest |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Dorset and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Westford and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above VT |
| Westford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kLowest 34% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
— |
| Westford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282Lowest 25% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.