Compare towns
Ripton vs Westminster vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Westminster | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
497Lowest |
1,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.