Compare towns
Calais vs Richmond vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Calais | Richmond | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
4,159Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Richmond and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Richmond 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 |
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.