Compare towns
Orange vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Wells
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 the most people working from home (17.2%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Ripton | Stratton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
508Lowest |
532 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
— | $1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 39% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orange 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.