Compare towns

Ripton vs Wolfeboro vs Middlebury

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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.

MeasureRiptonWolfeboroMiddlebury
People
Population
508Lowest
6,571
9,175Highest
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±14.2
23% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
31.8±3.7Lowest
18% below U.S.
Wolfeboro 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
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Wolfeboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
32.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$94,375±$22k
17% above U.S.
$86,169±$16kLowest
7% above U.S.
Ripton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
$409,700±$30k
23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,156±$113Highest
18% below U.S.
Middlebury and Wolfeboro 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.
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,868Highest
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±14.4
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%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
16 minLowest
41% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro and Middlebury 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 — #46 of 120 in NH #17 of 70 in VT
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Governor Wentworth Regional School District Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town Kingswood Regional High School Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.