Compare towns
Whiting vs Ripton vs Barton 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Barton | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
508 |
730Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Athens 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Athens 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
— | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 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 | ||||
| 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 | — | — |
| 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.