Compare towns
Arlington vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Arlington | Ripton | Middlesex | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
3,607Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
40.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$86,071±$24kLowest 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$267,300±$24kLowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,015Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.