Compare towns
Reading vs Warren vs Ripton 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 renters (15.1% rent).
Warren has the most people working from home (36.2%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Warren | Ripton | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,585Highest |
508Lowest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Warren 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% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 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% |
30.1%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Warren 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% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
45.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$82,000±$12kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Warren 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 |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Warren 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 |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
— | $1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Warren and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 14% above VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,595Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Reading 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 | 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.