Compare towns
Dorset vs Ripton vs Springfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Springfield | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
18.6%±3.4 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%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 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% |
23.3%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% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% 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±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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 |
$4,807Lowest 5% 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% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.