Compare towns
Dorset vs Ripton vs Belvidere vs Waitsfield
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% 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 | Ripton | Belvidere | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
508 |
422Lowest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Dorset 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$84,375±$34k 4% above 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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 |
— | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Belvidere and Dorset 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Belvidere 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school 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.