Compare towns

Ripton vs Underhill vs Walden

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%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).

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.

MeasureRiptonUnderhillWalden
People
Population
508Lowest
3,141Highest
1,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
38.1±11.4Lowest
12% below VT
48.8±3.2Highest
13% above VT
Walden 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%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.3%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Underhill 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%
17.6%±6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.4%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
VT: 43.8%
50.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.5%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
$88,000±$15kLowest
8% above VT
Ripton and Underhill 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
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
$238,900±$23kLowest
25% below VT
Underhill and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$900±$136
27% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
about the VT average
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
$3,944Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Walden 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%
6.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
79.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
33 minHighest
39% above VT
26 min
10% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Walden and Underhill 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 — #2 of 70 in VT —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
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.