Compare towns

Ripton vs Danby vs Athens

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 highest household income ($113k).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).

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.

MeasureRiptonDanbyAthens
People
Population
508
1,133Highest
431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
47.3±6.5Lowest
10% above VT
Danby and Ripton 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%
14.6%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
Danby 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%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Danby 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%
34.8%
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$77,321±$13k
5% below VT
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$1,125±$537Highest
9% below VT
Athens and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
about the VT average
$4,543Lowest
10% below VT
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Athens 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%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
30 min
26% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Ripton 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 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 —
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.