Compare towns
Stamford vs Ripton vs Mendon vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stamford has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Stamford | Ripton | Mendon | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.4±5.5 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Mendon and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stamford and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 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+ | 34% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,646±$9k 9% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below 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 | $303,200±$25k 4% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT |
— | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Stamford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,113 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 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 | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 30% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stamford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.