Compare towns
Westminster vs Ripton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Westminster | Ripton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
508Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Calais 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.