Compare towns
Grafton vs Ripton vs Calais vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Waltham has the most renters (13.7% rent).
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 | Ripton | Calais | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
508 |
1,713Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Waltham 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174 4% above VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Calais and Grafton 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.