Compare towns
Middlesex vs Ripton vs Stowe vs Waterbury
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 homeowners (96.7%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% rent).
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 | Stowe | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
508Lowest |
5,285 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Waterbury 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
$103,917±$23k 28% 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±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,435 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waterbury 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Stowe Town School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.