Compare towns
Stowe vs Ripton vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Stowe | Ripton | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
508Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
| Ripton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 18% above VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.