Compare towns
Ripton vs Royalton vs Castleton
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%).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Castleton 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 | Royalton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,752 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ripton and Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Royalton 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% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Royalton 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% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 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 |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Royalton 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Ripton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Royalton 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 |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Ripton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | White River Unified School District #79 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.