Compare towns
Ripton vs Castleton vs Dorset 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Middletown Springs has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Castleton | Dorset | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,092 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Dorset 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Middletown Springs 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.