Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Mount Tabor vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Reading | Ripton | Mount Tabor | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508 |
304Lowest |
747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
— | $82,000±$12kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$4,595Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.