Compare towns
Westminster vs Ripton vs Reading vs Putney
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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Reading | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton 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 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126 26% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Putney 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Reading 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.