Compare towns
Ripton vs Bakersfield vs Castleton vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ripton | Bakersfield | Castleton | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,109 |
4,453 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Ripton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Ripton 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.