Compare towns
Westminster vs Ripton vs Northfield vs Rockingham
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 people working from home (27%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
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 | Northfield | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
508Lowest |
5,920Highest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| 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% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,062±$101Highest 14% below VT |
| Rockingham and Northfield 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Rockingham 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.