Compare towns
Castleton vs Orwell vs Ripton
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Orwell | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,294 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest 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±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Orwell 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 |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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 | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.