Compare towns

Walden vs Ripton vs Dummerston vs Concord

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 homeowners (93.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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.

MeasureWaldenRiptonDummerstonConcord
People
Population
1,037
508Lowest
2,090Highest
1,145
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-7.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.8±3.2
13% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
49.8±6.6Highest
16% above VT
Concord and Walden 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%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.9%±3.8
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
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%
48%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.2%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,000±$15k
8% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$73,304±$9kLowest
10% below VT
Ripton and Dummerston 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
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$159,300±$8kLowest
50% below VT
Ripton and Dummerston 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
—
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,111±$29
10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,944
22% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,536
10% below VT
$3,026Lowest
40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
43.3%±82.4Lowest
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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
93.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
10% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
21 minLowest
11% below VT
27 minHighest
13% above VT
Work from home
21.4%±6.7
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.7%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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.