Compare towns
Ripton vs Stannard vs Walden vs Wells
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 most expensive homes ($394k median).
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Wells has the most kids (15.1% 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 | Stannard | Walden | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
228Lowest |
1,037 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.3±14.6 12% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
13.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
25.9%±8.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Stannard 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% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,979±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Ripton and Walden 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 |
$216,200±$44kLowest 32% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Walden 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 |
$4,183 17% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
98.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.