Compare towns

Dorset vs Ripton vs Danby vs Dummerston

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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureDorsetRiptonDanbyDummerston
People
Population
2,092Highest
508Lowest
1,133
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
Danby 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%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Dummerston 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%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Danby 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%
34.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,250±$40k
37% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% below VT
$101,696±$21k
25% 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
$272,400±$41kLowest
14% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
—
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
Dorset and Dummerston 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
$4,543
10% below VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
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%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
89.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
8% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
30 minHighest
26% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Dummerston 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 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None 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.