Compare towns
Wilder vs Ripton vs Belvidere vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Ripton | Belvidere | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
508 |
422Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
43.9±10.1 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Royalton 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
| Ripton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
— | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Belvidere and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | — | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.