Compare towns
Rupert vs Windham vs Northfield 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).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Windham | Northfield | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
594Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Northfield 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Northfield 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Windham 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | — | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.