Compare towns
Orange vs Ripton vs Cornwall vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cornwall has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Orange | Ripton | Cornwall | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
508Lowest |
1,208Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Cornwall and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
— | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Orange and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.