Compare towns
Danby vs Jay vs Ripton 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 renters (10.7% rent).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
471Lowest |
508 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Danby and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% 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 | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
— | — | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest 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 | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.