Compare towns
Dorset vs Castleton vs Danby vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Dorset | Castleton | Danby | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
4,453Highest |
1,133 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% 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 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% 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 | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below 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 | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest 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 | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Peru 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 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.