Compare towns
Rupert vs Calais vs Putney vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Calais | Putney | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676Lowest |
1,713 |
2,622Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Rupert and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Calais 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 | 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.