Compare towns
Ripton vs Stowe vs Reading vs Middlebury
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%).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
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 | Stowe | Reading | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
5,285 |
699 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Reading 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
| Stowe and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 min 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Reading 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 | — | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Stowe Town School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.