Compare towns
Dorset vs Ripton vs St. George vs Williston
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%).
St. George has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
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 | St. George | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
508Lowest |
812 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.7±13.4Lowest 4% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George and Dorset 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% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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 |
$376,800±$50kLowest 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
— | $1,394±$132Lowest 13% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Dorset 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,514 9% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Dorset 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and St. George 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 | 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.