Compare towns

Peru vs Jackson vs Ripton vs Dorset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Jackson has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).

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.

MeasurePeruJacksonRiptonDorset
People
Population
434Lowest
1,695
508
2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±8.6Lowest
16% above U.S.
56.9±3.6Highest
46% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
45.9±7.5
18% above U.S.
Jackson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.5%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.4%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Jackson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83kHighest
88% above U.S.
$77,375±$8kLowest
4% below U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$111,250±$40k
38% above U.S.
Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$400,000±$105k
20% above U.S.
$235,400±$40kLowest
29% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$569,200±$57kHighest
71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$820
10% below U.S.
$1,139±$43Lowest
19% below U.S.
—
$1,420±$296Highest
about the U.S. average
Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$4,165Lowest
34% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$7,489Highest
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
77.8%±44.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Jackson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
22 minLowest
18% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town — — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.