Compare towns
Addison vs Athens vs Mendon vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k 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 | Addison | Athens | Mendon | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175Highest |
431Lowest |
1,113 |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
— |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.