Compare towns
Lowell vs Reading vs Ripton vs Montgomery
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
| Reading and Lowell 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
37 min 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.