Compare towns
Waterbury vs Ripton vs Moretown
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%).
Moretown has the most affordable homes ($381k median).
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 | Waterbury | Ripton | Moretown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
508Lowest |
1,532 |
| 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±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.8±3.8 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Moretown 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% |
17.3%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Moretown 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% |
18%±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% |
58.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kLowest 28% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$104,423±$7k 29% above VT |
| Ripton and Moretown 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 |
$380,800±$36kLowest 20% 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±$535Highest 17% below VT |
— | $838±$462Lowest 32% below VT |
| Waterbury and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,506 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Moretown 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 | None in town |
| 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.