Compare towns
Ripton vs Dorset vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Ripton | Dorset | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
2,092Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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 | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 |
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.