Compare towns
Williston vs Dorset vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Dorset | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,092Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.