Compare towns
Cornwall vs Old Bennington vs Ripton vs Middlebury
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 oldest population (median age 50.4).
Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Ripton has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
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.
| Measure | Cornwall | Old Bennington | Ripton | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
182Lowest |
508 |
7,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
45±21.3 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below 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%±3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±12Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Old Bennington and Cornwall 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% |
30.8%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Old Bennington and Ripton 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% |
84.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$86,250±$18kLowest 6% above VT |
| Old Bennington and Cornwall 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 |
$445,500±$105k 41% above VT |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$417,400±$31k 32% above VT |
| Cornwall and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,063±$1kLowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
| Middlebury and Cornwall 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 |
$8,690Highest 72% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,795 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.