Compare towns
Hampton vs Middlebury vs Ripton vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Middlebury | Ripton | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
9,175Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7 18% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
| Middlebury and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113Lowest 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.