Compare towns

Mansfield vs Middlebury vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($200k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureMansfieldMiddleburyRipton
People
Population
691
9,175Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
31.8±3.7Lowest
18% below U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
Mansfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
Mansfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
32.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,304±$14kLowest
3% above U.S.
$86,169±$16k
7% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$200,000±$29kLowest
40% below U.S.
$409,700±$30kHighest
23% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,156±$113
18% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,122Lowest
32% above U.S.
$6,868Highest
120% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±14.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
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
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
3% below U.S.
16 minLowest
41% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±12.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
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

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.