Compare towns
Wells vs Reading vs Ripton vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Wells | Reading | Ripton | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Reading and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Wells and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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.