Compare towns
Calais vs Ripton vs Randolph vs Middlesex
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Ripton | Randolph | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
508Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Randolph 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% 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 |
— | $1,172±$173Lowest 5% 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.