Compare towns
Calais vs Northfield vs Ripton
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).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Northfield | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
5,920Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Northfield 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Calais 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield 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 |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— |
| Calais and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.