Compare towns
Hardwick 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
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k 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 | Hardwick | Westminster | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
497Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Highest 29% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— |
| Hardwick and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.