Compare towns
Danby vs Ripton vs Orwell
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%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
508Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell 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 |
— | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.