Compare towns
Groton vs Ripton vs Westminster vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | Groton | Ripton | Westminster | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 967 |
508 |
497Lowest |
1,059Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Ripton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% 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 | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
— | $749±$315 39% below VT |
$908±$236Highest 26% below VT |
| Ryegate and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659 27% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1949 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 29% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school 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.