Compare towns
Ripton vs Middlesex vs Walden
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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.
| Measure | Ripton | Middlesex | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Walden 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% 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 |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Middlesex and Walden 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None 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.