Compare towns
Ripton vs Jay vs Wardsboro
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%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Jay | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
471Lowest |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Jay and Wardsboro 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Ripton and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,479±$224 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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.