Compare towns
Ripton vs Rye vs Middlebury vs Lincoln
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
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 | Rye | Middlebury | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
5,611 |
9,175Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 19% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$409,700±$30k 23% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
$6,100 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rye School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.