Compare towns
Goshen vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Brandon
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 oldest population (median age 58.9).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
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 | Ripton | Middlesex | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 142Lowest |
508 |
1,943 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Goshen and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% 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 |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Brandon 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.