Compare towns
Ripton vs Castleton vs Belvidere
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 most people working from home (17.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% 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 | Castleton | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
4,453Highest |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Belvidere 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Belvidere 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Belvidere 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.