Compare towns
Jay vs Ripton vs Westminster vs Troy
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 homeowners (97%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Ripton | Westminster | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
508 |
2,999Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
| Westminster and Jay 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Westminster 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 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+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Troy 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $916±$126Highest 26% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Westminster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Westminster 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Westminster 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.