Compare towns

Concord vs Jay vs Ripton vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureConcordJayRiptonWells
People
Population
1,145
471Lowest
508
1,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.8±6.6
16% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
47.7±14.2Lowest
11% above VT
50.7±5.2
18% above VT
Jay and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±3.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Concord and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.1%±4
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.5%±2.2
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,304±$9kLowest
10% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$75,417±$11k
7% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$159,300±$8kLowest
50% below VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$243,000±$42k
23% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,111±$29Lowest
10% below VT
— —
$1,313±$282Highest
6% above VT
Wells and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,026Lowest
40% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,308
34% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±82.4
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wells and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
13% above VT
40 min
69% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
48 minHighest
102% above VT
Work from home
8.7%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None in town None 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.