Compare towns
Walden vs Ripton vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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.
| Measure | Walden | Ripton | Reading | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
508Lowest |
699 |
1,145Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% 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% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,111±$29Highest 10% below VT |
| Concord and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs 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 |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.