Compare towns
Derby vs Ripton vs Reading vs Holland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Holland has the most kids (23.9% 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 | Derby | Ripton | Reading | Holland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
41.8±3.9Lowest 3% below VT |
| Derby and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Holland and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.8%±4.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$60,729±$16kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$209,400±$44kLowest 34% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,330±$69Highest 8% above VT |
| Holland and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,463 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Holland and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 9% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.3%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #52 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.