Compare towns
Castleton vs Dorset vs Peru vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Castleton | Dorset | Peru | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,092 |
434Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% 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 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
— |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Ripton 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | 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.