Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Orwell | Ripton | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kLowest 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.