Compare towns
Middlesex vs Windham vs Ripton vs Montpelier
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% 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 | Windham | Ripton | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
594 |
508Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Montpelier 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above 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 |
— | — | $1,302±$113Lowest 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Montpelier 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.