Compare towns
Berlin vs Ripton vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Berlin | Ripton | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
508Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Berlin and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
— | $1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Wolcott 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wolcott School District |
| 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.