Compare towns
Randolph vs Ripton vs Wells vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
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 | Randolph | Ripton | Wells | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
1,148 |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Wells and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
| Ripton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Wells and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | — | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.