Compare towns
Hyde Park vs Ripton vs Castleton vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Hyde Park | Ripton | Castleton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,000 |
508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±3.9 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$9k 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,007±$340 18% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,883 23% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Hyde Park 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 | #59 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Lamoille Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.