Compare towns
Athens vs Windham 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 renters (26.3% rent).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Windham | Ripton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
594 |
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 |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
— | — | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Athens and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% 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% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer 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 |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Athens 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.