Compare towns
Ripton vs Townshend vs Williston
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%).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Townshend | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,538 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
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| 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.