Compare towns
Rupert vs Sheldon vs Ira 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).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Rupert | Sheldon | Ira | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
2,267Highest |
381Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| 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 14% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 9% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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 |
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.