Compare towns
Wells vs Ripton vs Stamford
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 most affordable homes ($243k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Stamford has the most kids (20.1% 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.
| Measure | Wells | Ripton | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
508Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.4±5.5 15% above VT |
| Wells and Stamford 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stamford and Wells 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±2.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.5%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,646±$9k 9% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$303,200±$25k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
— | $1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT |
| Stamford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,113Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 30% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Wells 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Stamford School District |
| 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.