Compare towns
Athens vs Mount Tabor vs Ripton vs Waterville
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%).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Mount Tabor | Ripton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431 |
304Lowest |
508 |
680Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Waterville 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
— | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waterville 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.