Compare towns
Norwich vs Ripton vs Mendon vs Stowe
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 highest household income ($140k).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Stowe has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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.
| Measure | Norwich | Ripton | Mendon | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% 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 |
46.3±7.6 7% 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% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 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% |
66.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76k 101% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
— | $1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| Norwich and Stowe 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 |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% 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 |
1982Highest 6 yrs 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 |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Mendon 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 | — | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.