Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Ripton vs Windham vs Jamaica
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 affordable homes ($299k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Windham | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820 |
508Lowest |
594 |
882Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
| Jamaica and Wardsboro 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
— | — | $870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica and Windham 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.