Compare towns
Poultney vs Ripton vs Castleton vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Poultney | Ripton | Castleton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,010 |
508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.3%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $913±$84 26% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,520 30% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Poultney High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.