Compare towns
Coventry vs Ripton vs Middlebury vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Coventry | Ripton | Middlebury | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
508Lowest |
7,220Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.2 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Coventry and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,342±$3kLowest 27% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,900±$55kLowest 37% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $755±$108Lowest 39% below VT |
— | $1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,375Lowest 53% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 1.5%±27.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Ripton 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 | — |
| School district | Coventry School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.