Compare towns
Calais vs Springfield 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 people working from home (23.4%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Springfield | Ripton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
9,084Highest |
508Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Westford 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% 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 |
$4,807Lowest 5% 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% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
14.8%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% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.