Compare towns

Calais vs Ripton vs Warren 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%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($569k 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.

MeasureCalaisRiptonWarrenMiddlesex
People
Population
1,713
508Lowest
1,585
1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+16%
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
53.1±4.2Highest
23% above VT
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
Warren 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%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
9.3%±3.1Lowest
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%
30.1%±4.9
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Warren 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%
48%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
60%Highest
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%
3.6%±4Lowest
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
$86,905±$16kLowest
7% above 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±$61k
25% above VT
$569,300±$123kHighest
80% above VT
$376,300±$40kLowest
19% above VT
Warren and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
—
$1,750±$394Highest
42% above VT
$1,333±$359Lowest
8% above VT
Warren and Calais 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
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$7,284Highest
45% above VT
$6,483
29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
32.3%±26.6
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
15.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
86.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer 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
19 minLowest
21% below VT
27 min
17% above VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
36.2%±5Highest
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7
VT: 16.9%
Warren 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.