Compare towns

Windham vs Lowell vs Ripton

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 people working from home (20.5%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureWindhamLowellRipton
People
Population
594
118,368Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lowell and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$78,658±$4kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kLowest
6% above U.S.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
Lowell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,625±$40
15% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,499Lowest
44% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 — #255 of 282 in MA —
School district — Lowell Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — Lowell High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.