Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ripton vs Shelburne 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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
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 | Shelburne | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
508Lowest |
7,969Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Shelburne 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%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 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%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Shelburne and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
— | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.