Compare towns
Washington vs Ripton vs Westminster vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Washington | Ripton | Westminster | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
508 |
497Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 19% below VT |
— | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.