Compare towns
Ripton vs Hampton vs Castleton vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Hampton | Castleton | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,145 |
4,453Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 40% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$262,200±$24k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,208±$438 15% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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 58% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,595 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs 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 | 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 |
U.S. 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.