Compare towns

Ripton vs Wheelock vs Castleton

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%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).

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.

MeasureRiptonWheelockCastleton
People
Population
508Lowest
717
4,453Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
Wheelock 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%
18.8%±3.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
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%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
$224,800±$71k
29% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
$3,167
37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton 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%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
28 minHighest
17% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock and Ripton 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 — — #39 of 70 in VT
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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.