Compare towns
Pawlet vs Ripton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Pawlet | Ripton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
508Lowest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
— | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Pawlet and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.