Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs Middlebury vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
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 | Orwell | Ripton | Middlebury | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
508Lowest |
9,175Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,156±$113Highest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlebury and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury and Ripton 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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 |
U.S. 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.