Compare towns
Hyde Park vs Jay vs Ripton vs Belvidere
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 renters (20.4% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 513Highest |
471 |
508 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.6±10.1 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$285Lowest 6% above VT |
— | — | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893 23% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 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 | #59 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.