Compare towns
Ripton vs Williston 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%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Williston | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Wells 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.