Compare towns
Wilder vs Whiting vs Ripton 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).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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.
| Measure | Wilder | Whiting | Ripton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Highest |
532 |
508Lowest |
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 |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.