Compare towns
Dorset vs Ludlow vs Peru 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).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Ludlow | Peru | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,990 |
434Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Ludlow and Ripton 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% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Ludlow 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% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$370,200±$46kLowest 17% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,112±$151Lowest 10% 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 |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.