Compare towns
Kirby vs Lowell vs Windham vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kirby has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Ryegate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1949).
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 | Kirby | Lowell | Windham | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 756 |
1,070Highest |
594Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Windham and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.4% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Kirby and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Windham and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
— | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Kirby and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,597 9% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 43% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lowell School District | — | — |
| 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.