Compare towns
St. George vs Essex vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
St. George has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Essex has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | St. George | Essex | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 812 |
11,516Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8% VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| St. George and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.6% VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,464±$34kLowest 35% above VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,800±$50kLowest 19% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Essex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$132Lowest 13% above VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
— |
| Essex and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,514 9% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Essex 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.