Compare towns

Williston vs Ripton vs Ira

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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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.

MeasureWillistonRiptonIra
People
Population
10,144Highest
508
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
54.1±5.5Highest
26% above VT
Ira and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Ripton 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
37.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% below 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±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$272,900±$18kLowest
14% below VT
Williston and Ripton 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
—
$942±$52Lowest
24% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$4,146Lowest
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Williston 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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
16% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT — —
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.