Compare towns
Grafton vs Newfane vs Ripton vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Waltham has the most kids (12.8% 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 | Grafton | Newfane | Ripton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
1,456Highest |
508 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4 37% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waltham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Ripton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
— | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Grafton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.