Compare towns
Ripton vs Stratton vs Mendon 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Stratton | Mendon | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
532 |
1,113Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Middletown Springs 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$82,000±$12kLowest about the VT average |
| Stratton 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 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,208±$438Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,595Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.