Compare towns
Wells vs Windham vs Ripton vs Walden
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).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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.
| Measure | Wells | Windham | Ripton | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
594 |
508Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above 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 | $243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% 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 | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— | — | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wells and Walden 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Windham 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.