Compare towns
Rupert vs Appleton vs Sandgate vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Rupert | Appleton | Sandgate | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
1,360 |
435Lowest |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rupert and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.