Compare towns
Montgomery vs Poultney vs Ripton vs Lowell
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Poultney | Ripton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
1,033 |
508Lowest |
1,070Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
| Montgomery and Ripton 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% 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 |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
— | $945±$46Highest 23% 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 | $4,326 14% below VT |
$3,450 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 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 | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 58% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lowell School District |
| 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.