Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Mount Tabor 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 most renters (21% rent).
Ripton has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Mount Tabor | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434 |
508 |
304Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
10.2%±6.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor 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% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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 |
— | $111,250±$40kLowest 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±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
— | $2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%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 |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 Our Story | 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.