Compare towns
Halifax vs Ripton vs Whitingham vs Williston
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%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Whitingham | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
508Lowest |
1,368 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Williston 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%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below 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 | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below 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 | $875±$154 29% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Williston 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 | Halifax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.