Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Westford vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westford has the most people working from home (19.1%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Westford | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
508Lowest |
2,290 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Westford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Westford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westford 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.