Compare towns
Dorset vs Pawlet vs Rupert vs Sandgate
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).
Pawlet has the most renters (12.2% rent).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Pawlet | Rupert | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,480 |
676 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
| Dorset and Rupert 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 |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
— | — |
| Dorset and Pawlet 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 |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Pawlet 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Dorset 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | — | — |
| 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.