Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Ripton vs Orange vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Canaan has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Lunenburg | Ripton | Orange | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,267Highest |
508Lowest |
957 |
810 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
53.2±4.6Highest 23% above VT |
| Canaan and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.5%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
13.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 35% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$55,606±$4k 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 48% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$201,900±$46k 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
— |
| Orange and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 46% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,389 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
17.2%±63.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
91.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 19% above VT |
20 minLowest 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Canaan School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Canaan High School CTE Program |
| 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.