Compare towns
Washington vs Ripton vs Newark vs Topsham
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 oldest population (median age 52.9).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
Topsham has the most renters (9.7% 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 | Washington | Ripton | Newark | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
508Lowest |
727 |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Washington and Topsham 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% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Washington 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 19% below VT |
— | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
18.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
34 min 44% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Washington 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.