Compare towns
Whiting vs Barton vs Ripton vs Orwell
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Whiting | Barton | Ripton | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
730 |
508Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Whiting 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 |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
— | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Barton 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% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.