Compare towns
Dorset vs Mapleton vs Ripton vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Ripton | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,884 |
508Lowest |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Manchester 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Manchester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,886±$23k 18% above U.S. |
| 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 71% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,057±$76 25% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,923 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
U.S. 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.