Compare towns
Fairlee vs Middlebury vs Middlesex vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Fairlee | Middlebury | Middlesex | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
9,175Highest |
1,943 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 11% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.