Compare towns
Orange vs Ripton vs Sutton vs Barre
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%).
Sutton has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Barre has the shortest commute (23 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 | Orange | Ripton | Sutton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
508Lowest |
790 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
| Orange and Barre 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Barre 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barre 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Barre 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±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Lowest 8% above VT |
— | — | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and Orange 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Barre 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| 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.