Compare towns
Walden vs Ripton vs Ira vs Wells
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 people working from home (21.4%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Wells has the most kids (15.1% 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 | Ira | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
508 |
381Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Ira and Wells 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%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Ira 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% 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±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Ripton 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 | 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.