Compare towns

Whitingham vs Ripton vs Pawlet vs Halifax

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).

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.

MeasureWhitinghamRiptonPawletHalifax
People
Population
1,368
508Lowest
1,480Highest
847
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±7.1
8% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
47.9±7.5Highest
11% above VT
40.6±13.1Lowest
6% below VT
Pawlet and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.3%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Halifax and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1
VT: 21.4%
27.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Whitingham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.5%
VT: 43.8%
44.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.9
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
4.4%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,625±$11k
13% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% below VT
$63,889±$7k
21% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,300±$30kLowest
17% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$266,200±$44k
16% below VT
$267,500±$21k
16% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
—
$1,153±$215Highest
7% below VT
$875±$154
29% below VT
Pawlet and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
$4,915
about the VT average
$3,924Lowest
22% below VT
$4,991
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±47.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
42.6%±21.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
57.1%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
10%
VT: 10.1%
6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1964Lowest
12 yrs older than VT
1968
8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
62% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
33 min
40% above VT
33 min
38% above VT
Work from home
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
20.4%±8.3
VT: 16.9%
29.9%±11.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Halifax and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mettawee School District #84 Halifax School District
High school in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.8
— — —
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.