Compare towns

Whiting vs Ripton vs Panton vs Orleans

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 highest household income ($113k).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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.

MeasureWhitingRiptonPantonOrleans
People
Population
532
508Lowest
690
809Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
42.7±3.8
about the VT average
41.7±5.8
3% below VT
Ripton and Panton 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%
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.9%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
Panton 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%
16.7%±2.9
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.1%
VT: 43.8%
24.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$86,667±$10k
7% above VT
$57,159±$10kLowest
30% 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±$61k
25% above VT
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
$156,300±$18kLowest
51% below VT
Panton and Ripton 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
—
$1,410±$130Highest
14% above VT
$810±$94Lowest
34% below VT
Panton and Whiting 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
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
$3,019Lowest
40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
61%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
27.3%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Panton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
64.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
26 min
11% above VT
31 minHighest
33% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.3%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Panton 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.