Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Stowe vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Stowe | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
5,285Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
| Stowe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,860 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Stowe Town School District | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| 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.