Compare towns
Pomfret vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Pomfret | Ripton | Middlesex | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 908 |
508Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Pomfret and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above 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 | $399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 10% above VT |
| Pomfret and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±22.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sharon School District |
| 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.