Compare towns
Royalton vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Royalton | Ripton | Middlesex | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752Highest |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.