Compare towns

Danby vs Ripton vs Orleans

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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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.

MeasureDanbyRiptonOrleans
People
Population
1,133Highest
508Lowest
809
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
41.7±5.8Lowest
3% below VT
Danby and Ripton 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%
17.9%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Orleans 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%
19.7%±3.2Lowest
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%
24.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,321±$13k
5% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$57,159±$10kLowest
30% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$156,300±$18kLowest
51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
—
$810±$94Highest
34% below VT
Orleans and Danby 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
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,019Lowest
40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
27.3%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Danby 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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
64.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
26% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
31 minHighest
33% above VT
Work from home
12.1%±5.1
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.3%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Danby 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 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.