Compare towns
Ripton vs Belvidere vs Middlesex 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
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Belvidere | Middlesex | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
422Lowest |
1,943Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Belvidere 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% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs 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% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,208±$438Lowest about the VT average |
| Belvidere and Middlesex 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.