Compare towns
Addison vs Wheelock vs Ripton vs Mendon
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 renters (10.8% rent).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Wheelock | Ripton | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175Highest |
717 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% 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%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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 |
— | — | $1,230±$651Lowest 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 |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Wheelock 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.