Compare towns
Ripton vs Rochester vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Rochester | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,389 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $929±$158Highest 25% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Rochester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.