Compare towns
Westminster vs Ripton vs Jay vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Westminster | Ripton | Jay | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 497 |
508 |
471Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16k 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 | $313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% 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 | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 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 | 2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Westminster 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.