Compare towns
Dorset vs Middlesex vs Ripton vs Danby
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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Middlesex | Ripton | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,943 |
508Lowest |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
| Danby 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Danby 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% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
— | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.