Compare towns
Orleans vs Ripton vs Wallingford
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%).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (20 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 | Orleans | Ripton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809Highest |
508Lowest |
643 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±22.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Wallingford 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% |
20.2%±7.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,714±$18k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Wallingford 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 |
$239,000±$49k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
— | $927±$140Highest 25% below VT |
| Wallingford 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,743 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.6%±16.3Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orleans 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 | — |
| High school 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.