Compare towns
Ripton vs Plainfield vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Ripton | Plainfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,314 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above 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 |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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 History | 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.