Compare towns
White River Junction vs Ripton vs Johnson vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Ripton | Johnson | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
508Lowest |
3,450Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
— | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.