Compare towns
Dummerston vs Montgomery vs Plainfield 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 most people working from home (25.9%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Dummerston | Montgomery | Plainfield | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,047 |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton 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% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Ripton 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 | 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.