Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Orange vs Westmoreland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Putney | Ripton | Orange | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
957 |
2,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmoreland and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$104,444±$28k 29% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,354±$280Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,643Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.