Compare towns

Webster vs Ripton vs Middleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k 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.

MeasureWebsterRiptonMiddleton
People
Population
2,227Highest
508Lowest
1,595
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±7.6
15% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
43.5±5.7Lowest
12% above U.S.
Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.9%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,171±$14k
33% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$101,696±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$338,500±$30k
about the U.S. average
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$312,300±$27kLowest
6% below U.S.
Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,396±$622Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
$1,500±$293Highest
6% above U.S.
Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,021Highest
93% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$5,504
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.6%±71
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
83.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
39 minHighest
47% above U.S.
Work from home
17.1%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Merrimack Valley School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Middleton School District
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

U.S. 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.