Compare towns
Ripton vs Middlebury vs St. George vs Reading
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%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
St. George has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Middlebury | St. George | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
9,175Highest |
812 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George 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% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$376,800±$50kLowest 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 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±$113 6% below VT |
$1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below 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 | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,514 9% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| St. George 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% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Reading 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 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.