Compare towns
Barnard vs Bolton vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Barnard | Bolton | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
1,163 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT |
— |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.