Compare towns
Dorset vs Hancock vs Ripton
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%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Hancock | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
435Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton 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% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Hancock 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% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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 | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Ripton 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.