Compare towns

Dorset vs Ripton vs Peru vs Rupert

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).

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.

MeasureDorsetRiptonPeruRupert
People
Population
2,092Highest
508
434Lowest
676
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
45.3±8.6Lowest
5% above VT
57.8±9.7Highest
34% above VT
Rupert 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%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.9%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1
VT: 21.4%
21.4%±5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
42.3%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Rupert 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%
54.3%
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2Lowest
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,250±$40k
37% above VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$151,875±$83kHighest
87% above VT
$88,229±$36kLowest
9% above VT
Peru and Ripton 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
$400,000±$105k
26% above VT
$362,500±$63kLowest
14% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
—
$1,271±$820Lowest
about the VT average
—
Dorset and Peru 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
$5,000
about the VT average
$4,594Lowest
9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
20%±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%
1.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.7%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
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
8% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
28 minHighest
19% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Rupert 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 — —
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.