Compare towns
Walden vs Ripton vs Topsham vs Stannard
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).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
Stannard has the most homeowners (98.1%).
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 | Topsham | Stannard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
508 |
999 |
228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
48.3±14.6 12% above VT |
| Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.9%±8.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Stannard 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$66,979±$30kLowest 18% 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 |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
$216,200±$44kLowest 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $908±$398Highest 26% below VT |
— |
| Topsham 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$4,183 17% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
98.1%Highest 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 |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Waits River Union High District #36 | — |
| 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.