Compare towns

Danby vs Ripton vs Walden

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%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).

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.

MeasureDanbyRiptonWalden
People
Population
1,133Highest
508Lowest
1,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
47.7±14.2Lowest
11% above VT
48.8±3.2
13% above VT
Danby and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.3%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Danby and Walden 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%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
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%
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$88,000±$15k
8% above VT
Ripton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$238,900±$23kLowest
25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
—
$900±$136Highest
27% below VT
Walden 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
$3,944Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.4%±34.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Walden and Ripton 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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
26% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
26 min
10% above VT
Work from home
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Walden 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 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
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

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.