Compare towns

Unity vs Westminster vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureUnityWestminsterRipton
People
Population
1,375Highest
497Lowest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
Unity and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Unity and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,500±$16k
8% above U.S.
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
Ripton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$276,100±$29kLowest
17% below U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above 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
$1,625±$804Highest
15% above U.S.
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
—
Unity and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
$4,480Lowest
44% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
9.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
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 Unity School District — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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.