Compare towns

Poultney vs Ripton vs Williston

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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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.

MeasurePoultneyRiptonWilliston
People
Population
1,033
508Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
Ripton and Williston 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±6.6
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
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+
38.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Lowest
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
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
Ripton and Williston 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
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Williston and Ripton 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
—
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,450Lowest
32% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.2%±12.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Williston 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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
33% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
11.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Williston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
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.