Compare towns
Williston vs Reading vs Ripton vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Williston | Reading | Ripton | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Reading 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.