Compare towns
Calais vs Shelburne vs Ripton 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).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Shelburne | Ripton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
7,969Highest |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shelburne 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% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
— | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Middlesex 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 Our Story | 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.