Compare towns
Whiting vs Ripton vs Addison 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).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
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.
| Measure | Whiting | Ripton | Addison | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
508 |
1,175Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,667±$7k 31% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$362,200±$23k 14% 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.2% VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4 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 Our Story | 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.