Compare towns

Norwich vs Ripton vs Mendon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).

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.

MeasureNorwichRiptonMendon
People
Population
3,640Highest
508Lowest
1,113
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$100,524±$23kLowest
24% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$357,000±$44kLowest
13% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
—
$1,230±$651Lowest
about the VT average
Norwich and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$5,342
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
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
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
17 minLowest
28% below VT
Work from home
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Mendon and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT — —
School district Norwich School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.