Compare towns
Wilder vs Castleton vs Ripton vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Wilder | Castleton | Ripton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
4,453 |
508Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Hartford 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.