Compare towns
Vershire vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Vershire | Ripton | Middlesex | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 842 |
508Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% 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 | $209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% 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 | $1,117±$80Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640 8% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Ripton 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.