Compare towns
Northfield vs Reading vs Ripton vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
St. Albans has the most kids (20% 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 | Northfield | Reading | Ripton | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920 |
699 |
508Lowest |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
41.3±2.8 4% below VT |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$90,060±$19k 11% above VT |
| Ripton and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$363,300±$22k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,460±$152Highest 18% above VT |
| St. Albans and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,689Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.7%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.