Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheldon vs Brookfield 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%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Sheldon | Brookfield | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,486 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Ripton 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 | 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.