Compare towns
Dorset vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Danby
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).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Worcester | Ripton | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
| Danby 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Danby 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
— | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,543 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None 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.