Compare towns
Middletown Springs vs Ripton vs Sutton vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Middletown Springs | Ripton | Sutton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 747 |
508Lowest |
790 |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,000±$12k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$438Lowest about the VT average |
— | — | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,595 9% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.