Compare towns

Poultney vs Reading vs Ripton

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 most affordable homes ($197k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasurePoultneyReadingRipton
People
Population
1,033Highest
699
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.8%±5
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Reading and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,536±$11kLowest
13% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,600±$43kLowest
38% below VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
—
Reading and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,450Lowest
32% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.2%±12.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
33% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
11.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Ripton 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 — —
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school 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.