Compare towns
Townshend vs Ripton vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Townshend | Ripton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
508Lowest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Townshend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
— | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
| Townshend and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.