Compare towns
Stannard vs Wells vs Ripton vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Wells has the most kids (15.1% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.
| Measure | Stannard | Wells | Ripton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 228Lowest |
1,148Highest |
508 |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.3±14.6 12% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Wells and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±8.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,979±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $216,200±$44kLowest 32% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 17% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 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 | 3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 min 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.