Compare towns
Berlin vs Colrain vs Middlesex 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
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Colrain has the most renters (13.5% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Berlin | Colrain | Middlesex | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,627 |
1,943 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Mohawk Trail | 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 | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.