Compare towns
Calais vs Dorset vs Ripton vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Calais | Dorset | Ripton | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,092Highest |
508Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.