Compare towns
Ripton vs Whitingham vs Wells
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%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.
| Measure | Ripton | Whitingham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,368Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 min 62% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Wells 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
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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.