Compare towns
Ripton vs Wilder 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 most expensive homes ($394k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
3,087Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Wilder 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,595Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | |||
| 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 | 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.