Compare towns

Putney vs Ripton vs Sandgate vs Wheelock

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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutneyRiptonSandgateWheelock
People
Population
2,622Highest
508
435Lowest
717
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
55.7±5.4Highest
29% above VT
51±5.6
18% above VT
Sandgate and Wheelock 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.1%±7.5
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Wheelock and Putney 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
26%±11.3
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
37.8%
VT: 43.8%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
2.3%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
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±$18k
about the VT average
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$69,167±$19k
15% below VT
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$193,800±$31k
39% below VT
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% 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
$508±$482
59% below VT
— — —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$2,778Lowest
45% below VT
$2,937
42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
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%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.7%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1959Lowest
17 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
27 min
16% above VT
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16
VT: 16.9%
Sandgate and Wheelock 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 — — —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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 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.