Compare towns
Topsham vs Ripton vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Topsham | Ripton | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999 |
508Lowest |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Highest 26% below VT |
— | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006 21% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.