Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs Wells
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%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
508Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells 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% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% 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 |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Orwell 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%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 min 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.