Compare towns
Orleans vs Ripton vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chittenden has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Orleans | Ripton | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
508Lowest |
1,318Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
| Chittenden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
— | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Chittenden and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.