Compare towns
Halifax vs Ripton vs Reading vs Newark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
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 | Halifax | Ripton | Reading | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 41% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None 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.