Compare towns

Middlesex vs Ripton vs Marshfield

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%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k median).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexRiptonMarshfield
People
Population
1,943Highest
508Lowest
1,863
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
38.7±6.1Lowest
10% 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%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.2%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Marshfield 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%
17.8%±2.1Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
38.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13k
35% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$60,313±$10kLowest
26% below 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
$214,100±$37kLowest
32% 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±$359Highest
8% above VT
—
$1,317±$126Lowest
7% above VT
Middlesex and Marshfield 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
$3,668Lowest
27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
65.7%±73.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Marshfield 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%
9.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
29 minHighest
23% above VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.5%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Marshfield 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 —
High school 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.