Compare towns
Ripton vs Putney vs Moriah vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
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 | Putney | Moriah | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,622 |
4,483 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Moriah 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$63,113±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$832±$165 41% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #380 of 484 in NY | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.