Compare towns
Ripton vs Essex vs Hubbardton
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%).
Essex has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Hubbardton has the most affordable homes ($294k 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 | Essex | Hubbardton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
11,516Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
48±13.6Highest 11% above VT |
| Hubbardton 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% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Hubbardton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.1%±10.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hubbardton and Ripton 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% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
$102,321±$18kLowest 26% above VT |
| Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$293,800±$42kLowest 7% below VT |
| Essex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,569±$138Lowest 27% above VT |
$1,708±$259Highest 38% above VT |
| Hubbardton and Essex 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 |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,284 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.6%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hubbardton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
24%±17.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Hubbardton and Essex 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| 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.