Compare towns

Middlesex vs Ripton vs Bolton

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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexRiptonBolton
People
Population
1,943Highest
508Lowest
1,163
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+10.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
36.3±1.7Lowest
16% below 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%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.9%±4
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex and Bolton 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%
6.7%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Middlesex 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%
48%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13kLowest
35% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$111,125±$17k
37% above VT
Ripton and Bolton 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
$311,600±$42kLowest
about the VT average
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
—
$1,299±$273Lowest
5% above VT
Middlesex and Bolton 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
$4,826Lowest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
28%±30.8
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Bolton 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%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±8.2
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Bolton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
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

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.