Compare towns
Calais vs Ira vs Ripton vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Calais | Ira | Ripton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
381Lowest |
508 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Ira and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
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.