Compare towns
Walpole vs Ripton vs Westminster vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Walpole | Ripton | Westminster | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
508Lowest |
2,999 |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
— | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,162 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.