Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs Wells vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
508Lowest |
1,148 |
532 |
| 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±7 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below 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%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
25.9% 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% |
6.2%±4 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Whiting 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Wells and Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% 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% |
58.3%±37.3 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest 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 |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.