Compare towns
Addison vs Ripton vs Castleton vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Ripton | Castleton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
508 |
4,453Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Addison 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% 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 |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Ripton 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.