Compare towns

Williston vs Windham vs Dorset

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 the most renters (24.9% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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.

MeasureWillistonWindhamDorset
People
Population
10,144
16,038Highest
2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.9±7.5Highest
18% 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5Highest
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%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Windham 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.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$111,250±$40k
38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40kLowest
43% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$569,200±$57k
71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,420±$296Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,489
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Windham 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #13 of 120 in NH —
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Windham School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town None in town Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.