Compare towns
Dorset vs Cornwall vs Peru vs Dummerston
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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Dorset | Cornwall | Peru | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,208 |
434Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 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+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Dummerston 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
| Peru and Cornwall 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 |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126 13% 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 | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
1.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.