Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs Troy vs Topsham
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%).
Troy has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Troy | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
508Lowest |
1,749Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham 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% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Troy 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% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Ripton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 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±$51Highest 10% below VT |
— | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Orwell and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Orwell 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 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 |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Topsham 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 | Troy School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.