Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ripton vs Rochester vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Dummerston | Ripton | Rochester | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
508Lowest |
1,389 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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 History | 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.