Compare towns
Dorset vs Ripton vs Jay
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k 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 | Ripton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
508 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dorset 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| 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 |
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.