Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ripton vs Calais vs Westford
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 affordable homes ($335k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Dummerston | Ripton | Calais | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
508Lowest |
1,713 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 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 | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% 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 | $335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% 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 | $1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
— | $1,408±$392 14% above 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 | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.