Compare towns
Peacham vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peacham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Peacham | Ripton | Middlesex | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 887 |
508Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% 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 | $302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% 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 | $1,028±$248 17% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,605 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Peacham School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.