Compare towns

Cornwall vs Middlebury vs Randolph vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureCornwallMiddleburyRandolphRipton
People
Population
1,208
7,220Highest
4,843
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+10.9%
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
23.7±1.3Lowest
45% below VT
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±1.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
Cornwall and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
VT: 43.8%
61.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
40.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
40.9%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$86,250±$18k
6% above VT
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$417,400±$31k
32% above VT
$278,700±$38kLowest
12% below VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Lowest
9% below VT
$1,201±$120Highest
about the VT average
$1,172±$173
5% below VT
—
Middlebury and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726
33% above VT
$6,795Highest
35% above VT
$4,698Lowest
7% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
56.6%±15.8
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
56.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
67.2%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
15 minLowest
38% below VT
21 min
12% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Middlebury 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 — #17 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school 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 6 photos → 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.