Compare towns
Concord vs Mendon vs Ripton vs Orange
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).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Orange has the most renters (12.2% rent).
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 | Concord | Mendon | Ripton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Highest |
1,113 |
508Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Mendon and Orange 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Concord and Orange 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,304±$9k 10% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$29Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
— | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Mendon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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 | 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.