Compare towns
Berlin vs Randolph vs Ripton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Randolph | Ripton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% 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 | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% 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 | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.