Compare towns
Danby vs Ripton vs Wardsboro vs Pawlet
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%).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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.
| Measure | Danby | Ripton | Wardsboro | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
508Lowest |
820 |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| Danby and Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Wardsboro 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% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$62,273±$14k 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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 |
— | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Pawlet 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 |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None 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.