Compare towns

Elmore vs Whiting vs Ripton vs Wolcott

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).

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.

MeasureElmoreWhitingRiptonWolcott
People
Population
964
532
508Lowest
1,507Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
—
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45±3.5
4% above VT
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
42.4±5.9
about the VT average
Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±9.5
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.8%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.6%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.1%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.8%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,750±$24k
22% above VT
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$70,259±$10kLowest
13% below VT
Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,800±$47k
about the VT average
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$221,300±$23kLowest
30% below VT
Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,225±$263Highest
about the VT average
$1,204±$519
about the VT average
—
$1,059±$118Lowest
14% below VT
Elmore and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,066Highest
about the VT average
$4,227
16% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$3,930Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±65.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
75.7%±21.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wolcott and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
79.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
25% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
27 min
13% above VT
Work from home
9.4%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±4.2
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Wolcott School District
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.