Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Ripton | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Ripton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Reading and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7Lowest 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 | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Reading 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 | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None 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.