Compare towns

Bow vs Ripton vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k 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.

MeasureBowRiptonWestminster
People
Population
8,335Highest
508
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$313,600±$39kLowest
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
—
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,480Lowest
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Bow 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 #26 of 120 in NH — #53 of 70 in VT
School district Bow School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town Bow High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.