Compare towns
Eden vs Ripton vs Westminster vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eden has the most renters (22.6% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k 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 | Eden | Ripton | Westminster | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,351Highest |
508 |
497Lowest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.7±1.9 13% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
19.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±3.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,578±$8k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,900±$27k 32% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,300±$441Highest 5% above VT |
— | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
| Eden and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,313 34% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±39 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 15 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 63% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.6%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Ripton 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Lowell School District |
| 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.