Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs Newport
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%).
Newport has the most affordable homes ($251k median).
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 | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
508Lowest |
1,601Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±13.1Lowest 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell 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% |
17%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Newport 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% |
27.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Newport 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% |
28.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,202±$11k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$250,600±$23kLowest 21% below VT |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
— | $810±$347Lowest 34% below VT |
| Orwell and Newport 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,981 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
70.6%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newport 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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 | — | — | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Newport Town School District |
| 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 |
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.