Compare towns
Wilder vs Ripton vs Belvidere vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
508 |
422Lowest |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +10.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Belvidere 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Ripton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Belvidere and White River Junction 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest 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 |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 29% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.