Compare towns
Middlesex vs Ripton vs Colrain vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colrain has the most renters (13.5% rent).
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 | Colrain | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
508Lowest |
1,627 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| 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 108% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Mohawk Trail | 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 |
U.S. 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.