Compare towns

Windham vs North Reading vs Westminster 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

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 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.

MeasureWindhamNorth ReadingWestminsterRipton
People
Population
594
15,765Highest
497Lowest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
43±2.8Lowest
11% above U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above 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%
22.3%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and North Reading 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%
16.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
56.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$147,768±$25kHighest
83% above U.S.
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
North Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$710,500±$24kHighest
114% above U.S.
$313,600±$39kLowest
6% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,259±$356Highest
60% above U.S.
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$9,693Highest
211% above U.S.
$4,480Lowest
44% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
75.5%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
North Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 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
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
26.1%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Reading 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 — #33 of 282 in MA #53 of 70 in VT —
School district — North Reading — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — North Reading High — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1
— —
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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.