Compare towns
Danby vs Ripton vs Athens vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Washington has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Athens | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Highest |
508 |
431Lowest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Danby 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Danby 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Danby 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Athens and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Athens 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 Our Story | 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.