Compare towns
Bristol vs Starksboro vs Ripton vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Bristol | Starksboro | Ripton | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778 |
1,939 |
508Lowest |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
38.2±4.8 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Bristol and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
— | $1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
| Starksboro and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Starksboro 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | — | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.