Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Middlesex vs Ripton vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Fair Haven | Middlesex | Ripton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
1,943 |
508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below 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 | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.