Compare towns
Grafton vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Grafton | Ripton | Middlesex | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
508 |
1,943Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% 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 | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% 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 | $1,288±$174 4% above VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.