Compare towns
Lowell vs Plainfield vs Ripton
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).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
1,314Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.