Compare towns
Windham vs Ripton vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594 |
508Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kLowest 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
| Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
| Essex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,569±$138 27% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Essex and Windham 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 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.