Compare towns
Goshen vs Middlesex vs Ripton vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Goshen | Middlesex | Ripton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 142Lowest |
1,943Highest |
508 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Goshen and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±11.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% 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 | $330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% 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 | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Middlesex and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,240 4% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest 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 | 16.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school 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.