Compare towns
Danby vs Ripton vs Mendon vs Wardsboro
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Mendon | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Highest |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 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+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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 | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% 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 | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Mendon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.