Compare towns
Ripton vs Swanton vs St. George vs Reading
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%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
St. George has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Swanton | St. George | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,670Highest |
812 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
24.3%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George and Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and St. George 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$376,800±$50k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| St. George and Swanton 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 |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$5,514 9% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Reading 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 min 9% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Reading 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 | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.