Compare towns

Westfield vs Reading vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureWestfieldReadingRipton
People
Population
536
699Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±19.9Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.1%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Westfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±11.4
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,500±$30kLowest
11% below VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$301,400±$47kLowest
5% below VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$863±$187Lowest
30% below VT
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
—
Reading and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,388Lowest
13% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Westfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
29% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
14.4%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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

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.