Compare towns
Waltham vs Ripton vs Jay vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k 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 | Waltham | Ripton | Jay | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452 |
508Highest |
471 |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
57.8±10.6 34% above VT |
| Waltham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Waltham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
— |
| Ripton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
— | — | $2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 min 69% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Waltham 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| 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.