Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Ripton vs Putney vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (31%).
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 | Waitsfield | Ripton | Putney | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,918 |
508 |
2,622Highest |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— |
| Waitsfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,688Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 min 24% below VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Waitsfield 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 12 photos → |
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.