Compare towns
Ripton vs Springfield vs Middlebury vs Lincoln
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).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% 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 | Springfield | Middlebury | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
7,220 |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Lincoln 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Ripton 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% VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Lincoln 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.