Compare towns
Rupert vs Salem vs Castleton 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).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Salem | Castleton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676Lowest |
2,611 |
4,453Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% 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. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Castleton 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. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Castleton 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 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 |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— | — |
| 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.