Compare towns
Ripton vs Worcester vs Middletown Springs vs Reading
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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Worcester | Middletown Springs | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
831Highest |
747 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Middletown Springs and Reading 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Reading 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.