Compare towns

Wolcott vs Ripton vs Whitingham vs Craftsbury

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%).
Craftsbury has the youngest population (median age 41.5).

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.

MeasureWolcottRiptonWhitinghamCraftsbury
People
Population
1,507Highest
508Lowest
1,368
1,352
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+11.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±5.9
about the VT average
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
46.4±7.1
8% above VT
41.5±4.6Lowest
4% below VT
Ripton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.8%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
21.2%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Wolcott and Craftsbury 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%±7.1
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Whitingham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
46.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
12.4%±2.8
VT: 7%
Ripton and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,259±$10kLowest
13% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$70,625±$11k
13% below VT
$83,672±$16k
3% above VT
Ripton and Craftsbury 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
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
$270,500±$44k
15% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,059±$118
14% below VT
—
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$1,091±$184Highest
12% below VT
Craftsbury 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
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
$4,164
17% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75.7%±21.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
29.9%±29.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Wolcott and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
82.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
13% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
38 minHighest
62% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
Work from home
13.9%±4.2
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.5%±5.1
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 Twin Valley Unified School District #75 —
High school in town None in town None in town Twin Valley Middle High School —
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.8
—
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.