Compare towns
Ripton vs Castleton vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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 | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Orleans 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%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Orleans 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% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest 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±$23k 9% below VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orleans 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.