Compare towns
Peru vs Middlesex vs Ripton vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Peru | Middlesex | Ripton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,943 |
508 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$109,632±$13kLowest 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| 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 26% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
— | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest 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 | 1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | 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 |
| 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.