Compare towns
Middlesex vs Ripton vs Elmore vs Dummerston
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Dummerston 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 | Elmore | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
508Lowest |
964 |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Dummerston 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% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$98,750±$24kLowest 22% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% 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 |
$315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
$335,300±$22k 6% 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±$359 8% above VT |
— | $1,225±$263Lowest about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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.