Compare towns
Dorset vs Ripton vs Cavendish vs Mount Tabor
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%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Cavendish | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
508 |
1,242 |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Cavendish 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton 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% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% 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 |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
— | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.