Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Pomfret 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 most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Middlesex | Pomfret | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,943Highest |
908 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Pomfret and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Pomfret and Ripton 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
— |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Middlesex 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.