Compare towns
Berlin vs Ripton vs Andover 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Andover has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Berlin | Ripton | Andover | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
508Lowest |
616 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Berlin and Andover 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Andover 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 |
— | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.