Compare towns

Dummerston vs Newfane vs Reading 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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
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.

MeasureDummerstonNewfaneReadingRipton
People
Population
2,090Highest
1,456
699
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
54.4±3.9Highest
26% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
Newfane and Reading 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%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
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%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
46%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above 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
$284,200±$49kLowest
10% below VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton and Reading 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
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
$1,100±$331Lowest
11% below VT
—
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
$5,174
about the VT average
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Reading 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%
10.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
27 min
13% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Dummerston 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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.