Compare towns
Danby vs Putney 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
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Danby | Putney | Ripton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166 36% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.