Compare towns
Ripton vs Fairfield vs Middlesex
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%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Fairfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,938 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Middlesex 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| 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 |
$320,600±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fairfield 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.