Compare towns
Walden vs Jay vs Ripton vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
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 | Walden | Jay | Ripton | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
471Lowest |
508 |
1,145Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
| Jay and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Concord and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,304±$9kLowest 10% below 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 | $238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
— | — | $1,111±$29Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.