Compare towns

Whiting vs Addison vs Ripton vs Athens

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).

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.

MeasureWhitingAddisonRiptonAthens
People
Population
532
1,175Highest
508
431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
53.1±7.6Highest
23% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
Addison and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±5.1
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.1%±1.9
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40.2%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
5.4%±2.3
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
4.9%±3Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$106,667±$7k
31% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
$362,200±$23k
14% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$519
about the VT average
$2,019±$461Highest
64% above VT
—
$1,125±$537Lowest
9% below VT
Addison and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,227Lowest
16% below VT
$5,831Highest
16% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$5,438
8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.9%±62.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.2%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
28 min
18% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school 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.