Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs West Windsor 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%).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | West Windsor | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
508Lowest |
1,171 |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| West Windsor and Orange 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% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and West Windsor 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% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest 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% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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 |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
— | $1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,860Highest 16% above 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% 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 |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | 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.