Compare towns
Ripton vs Jericho vs Reading vs Middlebury
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%).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Jericho | Reading | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
5,114 |
699 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Reading and Jericho 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% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and Reading 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% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
| Jericho and Ripton 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 |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Reading 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% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| 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.