Compare towns
Montgomery vs Newark vs Ripton vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Montgomery | Newark | Ripton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
727 |
508Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Ripton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
— | $929±$158 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.