Compare towns
Williston vs Ripton vs Vernon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Ripton | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
508Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Williston 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%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Vernon 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% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Vernon 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% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,682±$9kLowest 6% 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±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$285,100±$25kLowest 10% 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 |
— | $1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None 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.