Compare towns
Belvidere vs Berlin vs Middlesex vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
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 | Belvidere | Berlin | Middlesex | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
2,880Highest |
1,943 |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Berlin and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 | $239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
— |
| Belvidere and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.