Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Mount Tabor vs Ripton
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).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Ripton has the most renters (9.1% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Mount Tabor | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090Highest |
304Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
— | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
— |
| Mount Tabor and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.