Compare towns
Middlesex vs Ripton vs Colrain vs Monkton
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Monkton has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
508Lowest |
1,627 |
1,999Highest |
| 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% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4 21% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% 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%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$119,688±$28kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Ripton 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±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Monkton 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. |
$1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% 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% |
96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above 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% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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 | Mohawk Trail | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.