Compare towns
Middlesex vs Calais vs Ripton vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Ripton | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,713 |
508Lowest |
2,661Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
— | $1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,120 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.