Compare towns
Walden vs Ripton vs Putney
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
508Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest 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 | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Highest 27% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Walden and Putney 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 10% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Ripton 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 | 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.