Compare towns
Waterville vs Cornwall vs Ripton vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
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 | Waterville | Cornwall | Ripton | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
1,208 |
508Lowest |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Cornwall and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% 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 | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% 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 | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
— | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
| Cornwall and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Ripton 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 | — | — | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.