Compare towns
Newfane vs Ripton vs Dummerston vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Newfane | Ripton | Dummerston | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
508Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
— | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.