Compare towns
Ripton vs Dorset vs Peru
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 oldest population (median age 47.7).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
2,092Highest |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% 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 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest 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+ | 48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40kLowest 37% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% 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 | $394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest 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.