Compare towns
Danby vs Ripton vs Wells vs Windham
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 the highest household income ($113k).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Wells | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
508Lowest |
1,148Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Danby and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells 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% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| 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.