Compare towns
Middlesex vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Warren
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 youngest population (median age 44.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($569k 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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Ripton | Strafford | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford 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%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Warren 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$86,905±$16kLowest 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford 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 |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
| Warren 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Middlesex 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 | Strafford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.