Compare towns
Ripton vs Springfield vs Berlin 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Springfield | Berlin | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,880 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Berlin and Middletown Springs 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Berlin 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Berlin 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.