Compare towns
Wilder vs Whiting vs Ripton vs Waterbury
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 youngest population (median age 39.6).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
532 |
508Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%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 |
43.2±3.7 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% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4 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% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
| Ripton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% 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 | $5,505 9% above VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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.