Compare towns

Middlesex vs Richford vs Ripton

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%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexRichfordRipton
People
Population
1,943
2,467Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+1.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
39±3.6Lowest
10% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
Ripton and Middlesex 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%
21.8%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Richford 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%
23.4%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Richford 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%
20.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Lowest
VT: 7%
6.4%±3.6
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13k
35% above VT
$56,853±$13kLowest
30% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% 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
$176,600±$16kLowest
44% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above 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
$1,160±$66Lowest
6% below VT
—
Middlesex and Richford 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
$3,300Lowest
35% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
55.1%±15.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Richford 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%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
70.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
28 minHighest
18% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town Richford Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.