Compare towns
Ripton vs Jay vs Mendon 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%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 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 | Jay | Mendon | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
471Lowest |
1,113Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Mendon and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Mendon 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,208±$438Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mendon 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | 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.