Compare towns
Wells vs Glover vs Ripton vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Glover has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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.
| Measure | Wells | Glover | Ripton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
1,051 |
508Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
48.4±5.9 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.3%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Glover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% VT: 43.8% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$73,839±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$264,700±$34k 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$973±$130 21% below VT |
— | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Wells and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308 34% below VT |
$3,234Lowest 36% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
39.3%±64.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
40 min 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.