Compare towns
Jay vs Northfield vs Ripton vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Richford has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Jay | Northfield | Ripton | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
5,920Highest |
508 |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
— | $1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Richford and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.