Compare towns
Bolton vs Reading vs Ripton vs Barnard
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 most affordable homes ($312k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Bolton | Reading | Ripton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163 |
699 |
508Lowest |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% 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±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% 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 | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,372±$80Highest 11% 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 | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None 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.