Compare towns
Ira vs Reading vs Ripton vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
West Haven has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Ira | Reading | Ripton | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
699Highest |
508 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$245,000±$34kLowest 23% 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 | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | — |
| Reading and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.