Compare towns

Athens vs Danby vs Ripton vs Readsboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Danby has the most kids (14.6% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

MeasureAthensDanbyRiptonReadsboro
People
Population
431Lowest
1,133Highest
508
807
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5Lowest
10% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
50.7±3.9
18% above VT
Danby and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Danby and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
34.8%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30k
16% below VT
$77,321±$13k
5% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$55,268±$12kLowest
32% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32k
24% below VT
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$215,500±$52kLowest
32% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537Highest
9% below VT
$794±$166
36% below VT
—
$724±$32Lowest
41% below VT
Athens and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
$4,543
10% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$3,480Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
17.4%±24.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
32 min
35% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Readsboro School District
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.