Compare towns
Danby vs Ripton vs Middlebury vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | Danby | Ripton | Middlebury | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
508Lowest |
7,220Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| Danby and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% 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 | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% 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 | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
| Middlebury and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 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 | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Mettawee School District #84 |
| 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.