Compare towns
Calais vs Ripton vs Townshend 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%).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Ripton | Townshend | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
508Lowest |
1,538 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Calais 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% 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% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% 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 |
— | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above 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% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.