Compare towns
Ripton vs Westminster vs Mendon
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%).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,999Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Mendon 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Mendon 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% |
27.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Mendon 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school 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.