Compare towns
Ripton vs Townsend vs Middlebury vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
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 | Townsend | Middlebury | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
9,100 |
9,175Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$409,700±$30k 23% above U.S. |
$187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
$939±$19Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury and Ripton 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Middlebury Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.