Compare towns
Royalton vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Randolph
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 affordable homes ($263k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,752 |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Randolph 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% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 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 |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% 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±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% 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±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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 |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| 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% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% 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 |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 min 12% below 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% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #55 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.4Highest |
| 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.