Compare towns
Waltham vs Ripton vs Jay vs Panton
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 highest household income ($113k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
508 |
471 |
690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Waltham and Jay 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%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Jay 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% |
16.7%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 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 |
$86,667±$10k 7% above 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 |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Panton 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 |
— | — | $1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714 13% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Panton 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.