Compare towns

Richford vs Ripton vs Dummerston vs Jay

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).

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.

MeasureRichfordRiptonDummerstonJay
People
Population
2,467Highest
508
2,090
471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39±3.6Lowest
10% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
Richford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±3.6
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,853±$13kLowest
30% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$176,600±$16kLowest
44% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,160±$66Lowest
6% below VT
—
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,300Lowest
35% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,536
10% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±15.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Richford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
18% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
21 minLowest
11% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
9.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town Richford Junior/Senior High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.1
— — —
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.