Compare towns
Putney vs Richmond 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
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Putney | Richmond | Ripton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,159 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
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 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 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 | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.