Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Newark 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).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k 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.
| Measure | Peru | Ripton | Newark | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
508 |
727 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Newark 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
41%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% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below 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 |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Newark and Dorset 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,771Lowest 25% below 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% |
7.1%±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% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.