Compare towns
Guilford vs Jay vs Ripton vs Vergennes
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Vergennes has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Guilford | Jay | Ripton | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,461 |
471Lowest |
508 |
2,565Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.6±2.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Guilford and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,587±$13k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,600±$39k about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$310,000±$24k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
— | — | $1,000±$267Lowest 19% below VT |
| Guilford and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,827Highest 16% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,578 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | — | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.7 |
| 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.