What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).

Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).

Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marlboro	Ripton
People
Population	1,362Highest	508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	+25.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT	47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT
Kids under 18	12%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%	11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Marlboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	48%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%	20.1%±6.3Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,135±$10kLowest 5% below VT	$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,300±$55kLowest 13% above VT	$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT
	Ripton and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,600±$824 30% above VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,640Highest 12% above VT	$4,915Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4%
	Ripton and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 26% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9%	17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Marlboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Marlboro School District	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.