Compare towns

Castleton vs Ripton vs Stannard vs Wheelock

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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Stannard has the most homeowners (98.1%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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.

MeasureCastletonRiptonStannardWheelock
People
Population
4,453Highest
508
228Lowest
717
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
48.3±14.6
12% above VT
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
Wheelock and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.2%±9.1
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.9%±8.5
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Wheelock 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%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
44.8%
VT: 43.8%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
0%±6.2Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
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
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$66,979±$30k
18% below VT
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71k
29% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$216,200±$44k
32% below VT
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
— — —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
37% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,183
17% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
3.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
98.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
17% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
27 min
16% above VT
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
8.6%±5.5
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock and Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — —
High school 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.