Compare towns
Castleton vs Hardwick vs Ripton vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hyde Park has the most kids (20% 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 | Castleton | Hardwick | Ripton | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,965 |
508Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$9k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$198,400±$39k 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $1,007±$340 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,883 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Hardwick 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| 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.