Compare towns

Wells River vs Ripton vs Ryegate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureWells RiverRiptonRyegate
People
Population
340Lowest
508
1,059Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.7±12.7
about the VT average
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
41.2±2.6Lowest
4% below VT
Ripton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Ryegate and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±1.5
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$38,688±$5kLowest
52% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$66,484±$15k
18% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,800±$103kLowest
46% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$219,300±$32k
31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$336Lowest
27% below VT
—
$908±$236Highest
26% below VT
Ryegate and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,154
18% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,472Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±14.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
55.9%±29.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Ryegate and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
38.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1949
27 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
43% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 min
18% above VT
Work from home
5.2%±9.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school 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.