Compare towns
Ripton vs Putney vs Walden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Walden | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,037 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs and Walden 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney 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 |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Walden 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.