Compare towns
Dummerston vs Halifax vs Newfane vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Dummerston | Halifax | Newfane | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
847 |
1,456 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Newfane and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
— |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Halifax School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.



