Compare towns
Williston vs Castleton vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Williston | Castleton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,453 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None 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.