Compare towns
Athens vs Danby vs Ripton vs Whiting
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 oldest population (median age 52.6).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Athens | Danby | Ripton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,133Highest |
508 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Danby and Ripton 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%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Danby 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
25.9%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% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below 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% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.