Compare towns
Ripton vs Poultney vs Stratton vs Middletown Springs
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Middletown Springs has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Poultney | Stratton | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,033Highest |
532 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Middletown Springs 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 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±$15k 39% above VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Stratton 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 |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 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% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 33% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs 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 | — | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.