Compare towns
Dorset vs Rupert vs Shelburne vs Dummerston
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).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Rupert | Shelburne | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
676Lowest |
7,969Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Rupert and Shelburne 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% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Shelburne 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±$57k 80% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 |
— | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 49% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.