Compare towns
Dorset vs Peru vs Rupert vs Shelburne
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).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Shelburne has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Rupert | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
434Lowest |
676 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
| Rupert and Shelburne 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% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne 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±$40k 37% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
$115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
| Peru and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$362,500±$63kLowest 14% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 49% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 | — | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.