Compare towns
Townshend vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Townshend | Ripton | Middlesex | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
508Lowest |
1,943Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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 | $287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% 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 | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.