Compare towns
Wilder vs Dorset vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
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 | Wilder | Dorset | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
2,092 |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Dorset and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
| Dorset and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Bolton 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.