Compare towns
Northfield vs Ripton vs Westminster
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 youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Ripton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
508Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Northfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest 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±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Northfield and Westminster 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.