Compare towns
Washington vs Ripton vs Cornwall vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Washington | Ripton | Cornwall | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
508Lowest |
1,208Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
— | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 31% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.