Compare towns

Ripton vs Walden vs Whiting

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).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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.

MeasureRiptonWaldenWhiting
People
Population
508Lowest
1,037Highest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
48.8±3.2Highest
13% above VT
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below 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%
14.3%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting 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%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.4%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$88,000±$15kLowest
8% above VT
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
Ripton and Whiting 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±$23kLowest
25% below VT
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$900±$136Lowest
27% below VT
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
Whiting 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
$3,944Lowest
22% below VT
$4,227
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Walden 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%
VT: 10.1%
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
26 minHighest
10% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4Lowest
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 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
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.