Compare towns
Rupert vs Dorset vs Shelburne
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 most affordable homes ($363k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Dorset | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676Lowest |
2,092 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
| Rupert and Shelburne 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
70.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Shelburne 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±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63kLowest 14% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 |
$7,489 49% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.