Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Mendon 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).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Mendon | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
508 |
1,113 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Mendon 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
— | $1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| 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 about the VT average |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Mendon 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 |
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.