Compare towns

Waterville vs Ripton vs Danby

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 kids (20.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).

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.

MeasureWatervilleRiptonDanby
People
Population
680
508Lowest
1,133Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
47.7±14.2Lowest
11% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
Danby 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%
14.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Waterville and Danby 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%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Danby 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$77,321±$13k
5% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$236,300±$15kLowest
25% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$93Highest
10% below VT
—
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,957Lowest
21% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,543
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
9.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
60% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
30 min
26% above VT
Work from home
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Danby 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 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
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.