Compare towns
Unity vs Westminster vs Ripton vs Washington
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 most affordable homes ($276k median).
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.
| Measure | Unity | Westminster | Ripton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375Highest |
497Lowest |
508 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% 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. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Unity and Washington 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% |
13.8%±4.9 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% |
29%±3 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% |
32% 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% |
4.6%±2.5 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. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Washington 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. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Washington 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. |
— | $1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Washington 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. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%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% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above 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% |
14.9%±5.3 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 | Washington School District |
| 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 |
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.