Compare towns
Castleton vs Ripton vs West Haven
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 people working from home (17.2%).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Ripton | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
508 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven and Ripton 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% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and West Haven 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Haven 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% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,485 11% 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% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and West Haven 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 |
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.