Compare towns
Barton vs Ripton vs Wells River vs Whiting
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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ripton | Wells River | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Highest |
508 |
340Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above 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 | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
— | $900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,154 18% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.