Compare towns
Bolton vs Middlebury vs Ripton vs Jericho
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jericho has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bolton | Middlebury | Ripton | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163 |
9,175Highest |
508Lowest |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7 16% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
| Jericho and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
$86,169±$16kLowest 6% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
| Jericho and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
— | $1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Jericho 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.