Compare towns
Wallingford vs Ripton vs Whiting vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the most renters (42.9% rent).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Wallingford | Ripton | Whiting | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 643Highest |
508 |
532 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.7±22.3Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±7.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,714±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,000±$49kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $927±$140Lowest 25% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,743Lowest 26% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±16.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 15% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 7% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school 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.