Compare towns
Dorset vs Ira vs Mount Tabor 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 kids (24% under 18).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Ira | Mount Tabor | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
381 |
304Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% 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 |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 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 Our Story | 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.