Compare towns
Wolcott vs Ripton vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Wolcott | Ripton | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507Highest |
508Lowest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wolcott School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| 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.