Compare towns
Westminster vs Ripton vs Dorset vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Westminster | Ripton | Dorset | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497Lowest |
508 |
2,092Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below 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 | $313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.