Compare towns

Waterbury vs Ripton vs Duxbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Duxbury has the youngest population (median age 37.5).

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.

MeasureWaterburyRiptonDuxbury
People
Population
5,405Highest
508Lowest
1,548
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+5.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
37.5±4.4Lowest
13% below VT
Ripton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
13%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.2%
VT: 43.8%
48%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.8Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
6.5%±3.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,917±$23kLowest
28% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$105,208±$25k
30% above VT
Ripton and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$447,200±$40kHighest
41% above VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$364,600±$27kLowest
15% above VT
Waterbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% below VT
—
$1,318±$407Highest
7% above VT
Duxbury and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,435
28% above VT
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$6,564Highest
30% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.8%±21.7
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
21.2%±21Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
28% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
28.3%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±3.6
VT: 16.9%
Waterbury and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 70 in VT — —
School district Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town Harwood Union Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.