The Town FilesDorset, Vermont
Town in Bennington County · population 2,133 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $569,200
- Household income
- $111,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 92 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.9
Dorset is a town of 2,133 people in Bennington County, Vermont. The median home is worth $569,200, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Vermont towns, quieter than 95% of Vermont towns, better for families than 85% of Vermont towns.
How Dorset ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dorset is worth $569,200, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $111,250, which is more affordable than 7% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,420 a month. 90.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dorset | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $569,200 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,420 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $111,250 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 90.7% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 35.5% | — |
Who lives in Dorset
| People | Dorset | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.1% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 29.3% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.3% |
Weather in Dorset
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 91.5 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Dorset since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 29, 1969 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 1969.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 2, 2017.
Severe weather in Bennington County since 1996
Bennington County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| September 29, 2021 | Flood | DR-4621: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3567: Tropical Storm Henri |
Jobs and pay in Bennington County
Bennington County had 16,750 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,906 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Dorset itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Dorset
1 public school with 184 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset Elementary School | PK-8 | 184 | 11.5 |
Towns near Dorset
- Peru, VT4.9 mi · 531 people · home $400,000
- Danby, VT5.0 mi · 1,284 people · home $272,400
- Manchester Center, VT6.6 mi · 2,145 people · home $359,800
- Manchester, VT8.4 mi · 4,484 people · home $454,600
- Winhall, VT8.5 mi · 1,182 people · home $471,800
- Rupert, VT8.6 mi · 698 people · home $362,500
- Manchester, VT8.8 mi · 783 people · home $511,400
- Pawlet, VT9.4 mi · 1,424 people · home $266,200
Dorset questions
Is Dorset, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dorset scores better for retirees than 99% of Vermont towns and quieter than 95%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Dorset?
The median owner-occupied home in Dorset is valued at $569,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,250, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,420 a month.
What is the weather like in Dorset?
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 91.5 inches of snow.
Does Dorset get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Dorset since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 29, 1969. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)