Compare towns

Waterville vs Ripton vs Newark

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 renters (20.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Newark has the youngest population (median age 41.4).

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.

MeasureWatervilleRiptonNewark
People
Population
680
508Lowest
727Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.1±8.2Highest
14% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
41.4±6Lowest
4% below VT
Waterville and Ripton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Newark and Waterville 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%
19.9%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Newark 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%
41%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$72,929±$7k
10% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$236,300±$15k
25% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$229,900±$23kLowest
27% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,110±$93Lowest
10% below VT
—
$1,708±$97Highest
38% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,957
21% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,771Lowest
25% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
7.1%±100Lowest
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%
22.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than 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
34 min
44% above VT
Work from home
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.8%±8.2
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Newark 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 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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.