Compare towns
Ripton vs Jay vs Middlebury vs St. George
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 affordable homes ($234k median).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
St. George has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
471Lowest |
9,175Highest |
812 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. George and Jay 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% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
| Ripton and St. George 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$376,800±$50k 19% above VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
| St. George and Middlebury 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,514 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George 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% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Jay 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 | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
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| 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.