Compare towns
Williamstown vs Ripton vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Williamstown | Ripton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
508Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.