Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Ripton vs Jay vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Danby has the most renters (10.7% rent).
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 | Wardsboro | Ripton | Jay | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820 |
508 |
471Lowest |
1,133Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
| Danby and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | — | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.