Compare towns
Thetford vs Ripton vs Sandgate vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has the most renters (15.9% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Thetford | Ripton | Sandgate | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,813Highest |
508 |
435Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
— | — | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 38% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 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.