Compare towns

Ripton vs Hardwick vs Windham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).

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.

MeasureRiptonHardwickWindham
People
Population
508Lowest
2,965Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
47.1±7.4
9% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
27%±5.9
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
VT: 43.8%
33.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.4
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$92,297±$17kLowest
14% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$184,700±$39kLowest
42% below VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$875±$406
29% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
about the VT average
$4,351Lowest
14% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
48.6%±41.3
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.7%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1962Lowest
14 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
29 minHighest
23% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Windham 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 — #68 of 70 in VT —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 —
High school in town None in town Hazen Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.6
—
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.