Compare towns
Waterville vs Ripton vs Cornwall vs Bakersfield
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 most affordable homes ($236k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Bakersfield has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Waterville | Ripton | Cornwall | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
508Lowest |
1,208Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
46.4±8Lowest 8% above 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%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
| 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±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% 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±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
| Bakersfield and Cornwall 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.