Compare towns
Westminster vs Ripton vs Northfield 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 people working from home (27%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Northfield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
508Lowest |
5,920Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% 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 | $273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% 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 | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
— | $1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Ripton 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 | #27 of 120 in NH |
| 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 | Fall Mountain Regional 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 |
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.