Compare towns
Ripton vs Athens vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Ripton | Athens | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
431Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.