Compare towns
Montgomery vs Reading vs Ripton vs Richford
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
699 |
508Lowest |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
| Montgomery and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Lowest 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$56,853±$13k 30% 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 | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Richford and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 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 | 15.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.