Compare towns
Wheelock vs Dummerston vs Ripton vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Wheelock | Dummerston | Ripton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
2,090Highest |
508Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest 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 | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.