Compare towns
Concord vs Ripton vs Walden 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Ripton | Walden | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Highest |
508Lowest |
1,037 |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange and Concord 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,304±$9k 10% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Walden 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$29 10% below VT |
— | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.