Compare towns
Reading vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Williston | Ripton | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
10,144Highest |
508Lowest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Reading and Middletown Springs 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$82,000±$12kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,592 11% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.