Compare towns
Richmond vs Dorset vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Ferrisburgh has the most affordable homes ($423k 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 | Richmond | Dorset | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Highest |
2,092Lowest |
2,661 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Ferrisburgh and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,989±$22kLowest 32% above VT |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$422,700±$35kLowest 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,120Lowest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 70 in VT | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.