Compare towns

Newark vs Ripton vs Waterville vs Groton

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 youngest population (median age 41.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).

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.

MeasureNewarkRiptonWatervilleGroton
People
Population
727
508Lowest
680
967Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.4±6Lowest
4% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
49.1±8.2Highest
14% above VT
45.7±5.8
6% above VT
Waterville and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.4%±8.2
VT: 17.9%
13.3%±2.9
VT: 17.9%
Newark and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.5%±3
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
38.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
7.5%±5.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,929±$7k
10% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$77,250±$14k
5% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$229,900±$23kLowest
27% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$236,300±$15k
25% below VT
$243,000±$70k
23% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,708±$97Highest
38% above VT
—
$1,110±$93
10% below VT
$288±$151Lowest
77% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,771
25% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,957
21% below VT
$3,659Lowest
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.1%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
12.5%±72.9
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Waterville 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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.8%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
44% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
38 minHighest
60% above VT
30 min
29% above VT
Work from home
13.8%±8.2
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±7
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Newark 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 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A —
High school 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.