Compare towns
Middlesex vs Ripton vs Washington vs Wheelock
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%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Washington | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
508Lowest |
1,056 |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
| Washington and Wheelock 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% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock 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% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock 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% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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 |
$217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% 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 |
— | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Washington 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 |
$3,485 31% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Washington 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — |
| 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.