Compare towns
Middlebury vs Ripton vs Williston vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Middlebury | Ripton | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,175 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Williston and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,156±$113 6% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 33% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.