Compare towns
Danby vs Dummerston vs Peru vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Danby | Dummerston | Peru | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
2,090 |
434Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.