Compare towns
Ripton vs Walden vs Wheelock
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%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Wheelock 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 | Walden | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,037Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$136 27% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Wheelock 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 | — |
| High school 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.