Compare towns
Calais vs Guildhall vs Middlesex vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Guildhall has the most affordable homes ($321k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Calais | Guildhall | Middlesex | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
371Lowest |
1,943Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Guildhall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$321,200±$62kLowest about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,625Lowest 8% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.