Compare towns
Windham vs Ripton vs Westminster vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Windham | Ripton | Westminster | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
508 |
497Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
— | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| 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.