Compare towns
Middlesex vs Ripton vs Belvidere 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%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
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 | Ripton | Belvidere | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
508 |
422Lowest |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin 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% VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$86,691±$21k 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 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±$359 8% above VT |
— | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
| Belvidere and Middlesex 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
| 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.