Compare towns
Middlesex vs Pawlet vs Ripton vs Waterbury
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 homeowners (96.7%).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% rent).
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 | Pawlet | Ripton | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,480 |
508Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Pawlet and Ripton 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% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Waterbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
— | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mettawee School District #84 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.