Compare towns
Athens vs Whiting 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%).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Whiting | Ripton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
532 |
508 |
680Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Athens 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below 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±$32k 24% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.