Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs Sutton vs Orange
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%).
Sutton has the most renters (15% rent).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Sutton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
508Lowest |
790 |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% 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±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— | — | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orange 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.