Compare towns
Groton vs Plainfield vs Ripton vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Groton | Plainfield | Ripton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school 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.