Compare towns
New Haven vs Ripton vs Middlebury vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Haven has the oldest population (median age 48).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | New Haven | Ripton | Middlebury | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,792 |
508Lowest |
9,175Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48±3.9Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| New Haven and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,321±$17k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Ripton and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,300±$19k 20% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$143 6% below VT |
— | $1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,967 18% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.1%±6.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and New Haven 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.