Compare towns
Stowe vs Middlesex vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Stowe | Middlesex | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Highest |
1,943 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above 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 | $647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
— |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.