Compare towns
Newark vs Reading vs Ripton vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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 | Newark | Reading | Ripton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727 |
699 |
508Lowest |
847Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% 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 | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.