Compare towns
Dorset vs Ripton vs Waitsfield 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 people working from home (29.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Dorset | Ripton | Waitsfield | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
508Lowest |
1,918 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% 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 |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
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%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 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%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 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% |
63.6% 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% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% 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 |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$362,500±$63kLowest 14% 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 |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$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% |
47.4%±30.6 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%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 |
1980Highest 4 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 |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school 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.