Compare towns
Bolton vs Middlesex vs Ripton vs Duxbury
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Duxbury has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Ripton | Duxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,163 |
1,943Highest |
508Lowest |
1,548 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
37.5±4.4 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Duxbury 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$105,208±$25kLowest 30% above VT |
| Ripton and Bolton 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$364,600±$27k 15% 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 | $1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $1,318±$407 7% above VT |
| Middlesex and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,564Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
21.2%±21 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Bolton 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Harwood Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.