Compare towns

Waterville vs Windham vs Ripton vs Sutton

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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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.

MeasureWatervilleWindhamRiptonSutton
People
Population
680
594
508Lowest
790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
—
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.1±8.2Highest
14% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
46.6±5.7
8% above 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%±8.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Waterville and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Windham 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%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below VT
Ripton and Windham 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
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
Ripton and Windham 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
— — —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,957Lowest
21% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$3,975
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
12.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
60% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
30 min
26% above VT
Work from home
8.5%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Windham 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 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 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.