Compare towns

Ripton vs Middlesex vs Poultney

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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($197k median).

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.

MeasureRiptonMiddlesexPoultney
People
Population
508Lowest
1,943Highest
1,033
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
Ripton and Middlesex 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%
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.8%±5
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex and Poultney 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%
21.1%±6.6
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Poultney 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%
38.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Lowest
VT: 7%
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$109,632±$13k
35% above VT
$70,536±$11kLowest
13% below 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
$196,600±$43kLowest
38% below 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
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
Middlesex and Poultney 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
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$3,450Lowest
32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
23.2%±12.4
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Poultney 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%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
17% above VT
31 minHighest
33% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Ripton 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 — — #41 of 70 in VT
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.