Compare towns
Ripton vs Castleton vs Tunbridge 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Castleton | Tunbridge | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,253 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
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% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Tunbridge 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% 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% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Tunbridge 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Tunbridge and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,645 8% below 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% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer 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 |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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.