Compare towns

Middlebury vs Ripton vs Windham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($316k 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.

MeasureMiddleburyRiptonWindham
People
Population
9,175Highest
508Lowest
1,432
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.8±3.7Lowest
18% below U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
56.5±5.1Highest
45% above U.S.
Windham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
31.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Ripton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
32.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,169±$16k
7% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$76,477±$17kLowest
5% below 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
$409,700±$30kHighest
23% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$315,600±$74kLowest
5% below 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±$113Highest
18% below U.S.
—
$850±$295Lowest
40% below U.S.
Middlebury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Highest
120% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$3,363Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±14.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
68.9%±35.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
16 minLowest
41% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±6.9Lowest
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.