Compare towns
Williston vs Dorset vs Waterbury
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%).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Waterbury has the most affordable homes ($447k 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 | Williston | Dorset | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$103,917±$23kLowest 28% 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$447,200±$40kLowest 41% 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 |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waterbury 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.