Compare towns

Orange 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

Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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.

MeasureOrangeRiptonWestminster
People
Population
957Highest
508
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
50.3±5.3Highest
17% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
Orange and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
19.4%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±11.4
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+
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$81,000±$22k
about the VT average
Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22kLowest
30% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$313,600±$39k
about the VT average
Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153Highest
8% above VT
—
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,480
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
19% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
13.5%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9Highest
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 — — #53 of 70 in VT
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 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.