Compare towns
Windham vs Wolcott vs Westminster vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Wolcott | Westminster | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,507Highest |
497Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| 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% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Wolcott 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| 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±$20k 12% above VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— |
| Wolcott and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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 VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Wolcott School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.