Compare towns
Dorset vs Rupert vs Whitingham vs Peru
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%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Whitingham | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
676 |
1,368 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Rupert and Whitingham 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%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Whitingham 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Whitingham 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±$36k 9% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,271±$820 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 |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Whitingham 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.