Compare towns
Walden vs Ripton vs Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Burke has the most kids (23% 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 | Walden | Ripton | Burke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
508Lowest |
1,317Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT |
| Walden and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$87,143±$17kLowest 7% 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 | $238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$340,600±$18k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $938±$191Highest 24% below VT |
| Burke and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,177Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Walden 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Burke 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 | 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 |
| 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.