Compare towns
Barton vs Orleans vs Ripton vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
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 | Barton | Orleans | Ripton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
809Highest |
508 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
— | $900±$336Highest 27% below VT |
| Wells River and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.