Compare towns
Bolton vs Dummerston vs Ripton vs Craftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Craftsbury has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Bolton | Dummerston | Ripton | Craftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163 |
2,090Highest |
508Lowest |
1,352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+11.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
41.5±4.6 4% below VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
46.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
12.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$83,672±$16kLowest 3% 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 | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$270,500±$44kLowest 15% below VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,091±$184Lowest 12% below VT |
| Dummerston and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,164Lowest 17% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.9%±29.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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.