Compare towns

Middlesex vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs Moretown

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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexRiptonPlainfieldMoretown
People
Population
1,943Highest
508Lowest
1,314
1,532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9Lowest
3% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
46.8±3.8
9% above VT
Plainfield 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
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.6
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex and Moretown 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%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
18%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Plainfield 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%
48.2%
VT: 43.8%
58.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13k
35% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% below VT
$104,423±$7k
29% 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
$318,400±$34kLowest
about the VT average
$380,800±$36k
20% above VT
Ripton and Moretown 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
—
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
$838±$462Lowest
32% below VT
Middlesex and Plainfield 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
$4,806Lowest
5% below VT
$5,506
9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
16.1%±14.3
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Ripton 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%
VT: 10.1%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
17% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.4
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Moretown 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 — Harwood Unified Union School District #60
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 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.