Compare towns
Dorset vs Cornwall vs Ripton vs Manchester
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 kids (24% under 18).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Ripton | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,208 |
508Lowest |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
| Manchester and Cornwall 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cornwall 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$94,886±$23kLowest 17% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
— | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
| Dorset and Cornwall 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,923 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9 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% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Cornwall 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 | — | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.