Compare towns
West Windsor vs Stratton vs Ripton vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | West Windsor | Stratton | Ripton | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171Highest |
532 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| West Windsor and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.