Compare towns
Dorset vs Peru vs Ripton 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 kids (24% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Peru | Ripton | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Sandgate 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sandgate 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% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,271±$820Lowest 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | — | 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.