Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ripton vs Dorset vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Dummerston | Ripton | Dorset | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
508Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% 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 | $335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
— | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 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 | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 8% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.