Compare towns
Richford vs Ripton vs Williston vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% 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.
| Measure | Richford | Ripton | Williston | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,467 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39±3.6 10% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,160±$66 6% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
74.7% 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 |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Franklin 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.