Compare towns
Halifax vs Middlesex vs Newark vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Halifax | Middlesex | Newark | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
1,943Highest |
727 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below 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 | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
— |
| Newark and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.