Compare towns
Westminster vs Ripton vs Randolph vs Newfane
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Randolph | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
508Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Newfane 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% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Randolph 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 |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.