Compare towns
Lowell vs Montgomery vs Ripton vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Lowell | Montgomery | Ripton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070Highest |
1,047 |
508Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
— | — |
| Lowell and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
37 min 58% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lowell School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.