Compare towns
Wheelock vs Ripton vs Townshend vs Stamford
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Wheelock | Ripton | Townshend | Stamford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
508Lowest |
1,538Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
49.4±5.5 15% above VT |
| Townshend and Wheelock 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stamford 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±2.3 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.5%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$88,646±$9k 9% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$303,200±$25k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT |
| Stamford and Townshend 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$5,113 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
31 minHighest 30% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Wheelock 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Stamford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.