Compare towns
Essex vs Westminster vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Essex | Westminster | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
497Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Essex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Essex 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.