Compare towns
Middlesex vs Peacham vs Ripton vs Berlin
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%).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Peacham | Ripton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
887 |
508Lowest |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Ripton 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% 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 |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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 |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Ripton 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% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham 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 | — | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Peacham School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.