Compare towns
Ryegate vs Ripton vs Reading vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
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 | Ryegate | Ripton | Reading | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
508Lowest |
699 |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Reading and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wolcott School District |
| 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 | 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.