What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Essex	Ripton
People
Population	11,516Highest	508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average	47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT
	Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	48%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,199±$14kLowest 36% above VT	$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT
	Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT	$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT
	Essex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,569±$138 27% above VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,602Highest 31% above VT	$4,915Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4%
	Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 6% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%	17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Essex 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	#13 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.