Compare towns
Ripton vs Middlesex vs Dover vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Middlesex | Dover | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,466 |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Lincoln 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dover 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$870±$47 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None 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.