Compare towns
Westmore vs Dorset vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Westmore | Dorset | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
2,092Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11k 7% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Dorset and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137k 4% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820Lowest 15% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Dorset and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357 6% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.